Ravens & Lullabies - a nation decides...
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:04 am
Given that the new CD's out soon I thought that it would be good to start a thread in which we can share our thoughts on Ravens & Lullabies...
At the risk of setting myself up to be the most envied/hated person on this forum, I got a pre-release review copy of the new album through the post yesterday. I've only had a chance to listen through twice so far but... WOW! You are really going to be blown away when you hear it.
I had wondered how the alternating ravens and lullabies feel across the track listing would work but it really draws you through the album creating a great mood across it. The songwrtiting from both G and O (and G&O) is amazing and the arrangements are stunning. Lots of classic Giltrap playing and lots of fat, squelchy synth from Wakeman (alongside the fluid piano playing). the full band approach to the tracks works really well too with all really enhancing the sound.
I wondered how the vocal tracks would sit in a heavily Giltrap album but they work so well - and the singer (Paul Manzi from British proggers, Arena) has a really great rock voice. There certainly aren't many other Giltrap albums which contain swingeing social commentray on the decline of our industrial and manufacturing base or the 21st C credit culture... Both great tracks by the way.
Also, I think that collaborating with Oliver has pushed Gordon to excell in his playing. I think that it's definitely stretched Gordon's electric playing into areas he's not really explored before - and that's a really good thing from a listener's perspective.
There's olny a week left to wait for the official release date. Clear your diaries now to ensure some quality listening time available because you're going to want to spend some time listening through again and again...
At the risk of setting myself up to be the most envied/hated person on this forum, I got a pre-release review copy of the new album through the post yesterday. I've only had a chance to listen through twice so far but... WOW! You are really going to be blown away when you hear it.
I had wondered how the alternating ravens and lullabies feel across the track listing would work but it really draws you through the album creating a great mood across it. The songwrtiting from both G and O (and G&O) is amazing and the arrangements are stunning. Lots of classic Giltrap playing and lots of fat, squelchy synth from Wakeman (alongside the fluid piano playing). the full band approach to the tracks works really well too with all really enhancing the sound.
I wondered how the vocal tracks would sit in a heavily Giltrap album but they work so well - and the singer (Paul Manzi from British proggers, Arena) has a really great rock voice. There certainly aren't many other Giltrap albums which contain swingeing social commentray on the decline of our industrial and manufacturing base or the 21st C credit culture... Both great tracks by the way.
Also, I think that collaborating with Oliver has pushed Gordon to excell in his playing. I think that it's definitely stretched Gordon's electric playing into areas he's not really explored before - and that's a really good thing from a listener's perspective.
There's olny a week left to wait for the official release date. Clear your diaries now to ensure some quality listening time available because you're going to want to spend some time listening through again and again...
) (where is the secret, I wonder...).
for me but