By Marc Almond
I suppose this is a concept album, which was, in itself, quite a strange concept when it appeared in 1991. I suppose that makes it one of the earliest CDs I ever got.
Even stranger is the fact that it's an album of two halves. The first five tracks are Marc Almond-written songs; the second half is the "Tenement Symphony". I'm not entirely sure of the concept, but I kind of like it.
One of the best tracks is Jacky, a Jaques Brel song. I had never heard of Jaques Brel until this album, and I do like this song, but it has never really inspired me to find out a great deal more. Indeed, this version has an incessant disco beat, which I suspect was not as Jaques Brel intended. In general, I don't like incessant computer-generated disco beats, but this is an example of where it works, because it's just part of an intelligent arrangement/orchestration.
I can't really make my mind up about this album. Whenever a track pops up on random on my mp3 player, I smile and enjoy the track. And, knowing that it was the next pop album scheduled alphabetically, I permitted myself a sense of anticipation.
Sadly, the playing of the album as a whole does not fulfil my expectations. I think it's an intelligent album, I think it's far from formulaic. It consists of good songs well performed. So, what is there not to like?
My problem is that, ultimately, there is no real variety. Perhaps that says more about me, and more about the fact that in 2007, I listen far too much to music on random. A whole album has to have something extra to make me want to enjoy it for three quarters of an hour. And I suppose the downfall of this album is the lack of variety in Marc's voice. I have a lot of respect and affection for Marc Almond, who has been delivering the goods in a creative way since the early 80s. I think he is a musician, I like his voice, because of, rather than despite the fact that it's thin and wavery. But in the end, an entire album with no real change in vocal colour is aurally tiring. I am glad I have this album. I would not contemplate removing it from my mp3 player, it has some fabulous songs on it, especially Meet Me In My Dream and The Days of Pearly Spencer.
Perhaps, ironically, it's downfall for me is the attempt to be a concept album. If it was presented as a collection of commercially-oriented standalone five minute pop songs for the radio, I would like it much more. I suppose I find it a tad pretentious. Marc Almond is a good pop writer and a pleasant pop singer. But that's it. Like Elvis Costello, he's at his best when keeping it simple.
If it isn't in your collection, you really ought to get it. Especially at the price it's currently going for at Amazon, a fraction of what I originally paid sigh
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