This is THE FUTURE KINGS OF ENGLAND's third studio recording. It's an all-instrumental concept album about this man who drives out to this place (the viewing point) with his car and looks out over the water and thinks. It's a place he used to go to with his family but now he's alone. There's something about looking out over the water that's been there for thousands of years that brings some sort of stability and comfort to a life that can often be far from it. I live near a beach that's on a bay that goes as far as the eye can see. And while I haven't really done any thinking alone in my car like we have in this concept, I love being on the beach walking or running. It's my favourite place. I have to give this band a ton of credit not only for their musicianship but for the fact that all three albums have been different from one another, and they're all amazing. A very talented group of guys.
"Go..." opens with the sound of a car driving up before the guitar and beat take over.This is psychedelic and laid back. A fuller sound after 2 minutes before it settles into this FLOYD- like beat after 2 1/2 minutes. Organ joins in too. Mellotron around 5 minutes. I love the guitar, this is so uplifting. A powerful sound 6 minutes in. Amazing tune. "Sea Saw" does not sound like THE FUTURE KINGS OF ENGLAND at all. It opens with this drum led rhythm before it turns heavy a minute in. A calm follows. Mellotron 2 minutes in with piano. The sound starts to build with theremin. Great sound 4 1/2 minutes in as it changes again with guitar and drums leading the way. "The Cool Hard Truth" is a short but gorgeous sounding tune. It kicks in around a minute then settles to that earlier sound.
"Time Flies Like An Arrow" is spacey and psychedelic to start with a slow beat and mellotron. Guitar comes in. The tempo picks up after 3 minutes with bass, drums and organ leading. A calm before 9 minutes then it kicks in heavier than before. Mellotron follows as it settles to a lighter but more emotional section. Incredible track. "Rain Later, Good" opens with the sound of this man listening to the radio in his car. Strummed guitar and beat with vocal melodies follows. Sounds like flute late. "The Viewing Point" opens with spacey sounds as a beat and bass join in. A change 3 1/2 minutes in as the music fades and sound samples arrive of him in the car. A new soundscape comes in around 5 minutes. It kicks in after 6 minutes then settles quickly. These contrasts continue.
I still feel their debut is the best by far followed by the second one. This album is still a solid 4 star album but lacks the heaviness I like from their earlier albums. I do like how psychedelic it is though. "Sea Saw", "Rain Later, Good" and the title track haven't grown on me like the other songs, but the other tracks are just killer.
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Go... (7:36)
2. Sea Saw (7:17)
2. The Cold Hard Truth (1:37)
2. Time Flies Like An Arrow (13:16)
2. Rain Later, Good (2:48)
2. The Viewing Point (12:19)
Total Time: 44:08
Line-up / Musicians
- Ian Fitch / guitars
- Simon Green / drums
- Karl Mallet / bass
- Steve Mann / keyboards
No comments:
Post a Comment