Carefully crafted and atmospheric tracks populate Craig Armstrong’s debut album.’Rise’ is a supreme example of this.
Stand-Out Track: Rise
1998
All posts tagged 1998
In many places, quite a subdued and introspective album, with many tracks unlikely to provoke much dance floor fervour (it’s not until ‘Take The Long Way Home’) until there is something vaguely upbeat. It shows that Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo are not a one-trick pony. In fact, many of these tracks are quite effective: ‘Why Go?’ for instance has emotive guest vocals from Boy George. With this as a backdrop, it is unsurprising then that ‘God Is A DJ’ stands out head and shoulders above the rest. One of the dance tracks of the 90’s, its tag line ‘This is my church and this is where I heal my hurts’ and melody line make it a real showstopper, as in this version live from Alexandra Palace.
Stand-Out Track: God Is A DJ
OK, so technically a compilation album, but can I be allowed this one please? Sure, added poignancy here due to the premature death of Eva Cassidy from cancer in 1996, but even taking this out of the equation, there are some real heartbreakers here: ‘I Know You By Heart’, for example. It’s not all slow and emotionally evocative of course (try ‘Wade In The Water), but listening to ‘Over The Rainbow’ without a single tear appearing in your eye would prove (like the Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ itself) that you really have no heart.
She may have been approaching her 40th birthday when ‘Ray Of Light’ was released, but this was the album that saw Madonna grow up. There is more depth to her vocal performance here and the musical styles included employed are far wider (collaboration with William Orbit may have had more than a little to do with this). Songs are given room to develop and she is keen to experiment (see ‘Sky Fits Heaven’, ‘Shanti / Ashtangi’ for example), although there is still room for more traditional soft ballads (‘The Power of Goodbye’, ‘To Have And Not To Hold’) as well as well-crafted pop …
Stand-Out Track: Frozen
Formerly of Clannad, Maire Brennan has vocals that are instantly recognisable and can lift any tune from the depths of mediocrity. There is some good material here. My favourite is ‘Perfect Time’: It could almost be a Clannad track with its layered vocal arrangement and lilting rhythm. Recommended as easy listening.
Stand-Out Track: Perfect Time
A CD that suffers from trying to fit too much into a limited space – 24 tracks which was crying out for a double-disc release. The result is quick cross fades and edits that spoil what should have been a top-drawer live album.
Stand-Out Track: Stayin’ Alive
Surely one of the most innovative albums of the 90’s, with an enigmatic title to match. All the BoC trademarks are there with tracks either long or short, with nothing average on show. It has a sound all of its own and it defies you to listen to it and like it. Persist though, music lovers, because you will find a life-long companion here. If you want to head straight for the top of the tree, then it has to be ‘Roygbiv’. In two minutes it takes you from a cloud-covered sky through to blazing sunshine and leaves with the titular rainbow spanning the sky. Glorious.
Stand-Out Track: Roygbiv
Sometimes with a sound that mirrors an upmarket Bontempi keyboard, yet with arrangements and melodies which add up to more than the sum of the parts. Occasionally so laid-back (‘Ce Matin La’) that it could (undeservingly) disappear into the realm of background music. The opener is a chill-out classic.
Stand-Out Track: LA Femme d’Argent
Massive Attack go dark and (to be honest) never returned to the light. The whole tone here is ominous. Even when there are shafts of light (‘Angel’, for example) they pierce a thoroughly shadowy ambiance.
There is one glorious highlight (with a video to match).
Stand-Out Track: Teardrop
In places, rather too ‘alternative’ for me (with its clashing ‘yelpy’ vocal style and abrasive sound) but there’s always one track to go to …
Stand-Out Track: You Get What You Give
Musique365 