Dark Matters - Initial Thoughts/Reviews

[theraven1979]

Thought I'd start a new topic

Jim (yet to hear it)

[theraven1979]

Ok .....wish me luck....I'm going in!

Jim

[8088]

Ugh....I'll copy and paste all my comments from last night then:

ELP vibes in Breathe?

Easily best post Hugh LP.

Studio version of Water wins me over - much better.

Still unpacking No Man's Land, Payday, Last Men, Stallion and Breathe...all great on first listen.

Payday would've been better without the contrasting middle eight.

Somehow Last Men On Moon reminds me of New Model Army?

Still got a big grin on my face

White Stallion...(volume goes up a few notches) "we'll be kissing in the rain" - this would be glorious with a video - 'Merica Star Spangled Banner clips and all....

No Mans's Land is a blast - Black & White isms to the fore

Payday - Great Hugh style solo in there

A belter - more than pleased, only 2 tracks I skip - that's great for any LP

I want a 12" megamix of White Stallion....with bigger drums and Reagan/Clinton/Bush/Obama/Trump/Biden samples

[jeanjacketburnel]

Wtf is the postie? I only live 200 yards from the delivery office. I'll give them 10 more minutes then I'll be round banging on their door.

[theraven1979]

Water
Sounding a million times better than the live version IMO. JJ's bass and Dave's keys sounding immense. Seems to be lacking a melody though can't imagine whistling this for example. Repeated listening required I guess.

This Song
This is more like it. Contender for one of the best post Hugh songs they've recorded IMO.

And if You Should See Dave
This is the song they had to write. I can imagine plucking this song out for repeated listens in the future. JJ, Baz et al should be proud of this. A fitting tribute IMO. The finished song sounds different IMO. The guitar sounds stronger after the "..regret" bit. Or is that just me?

If Something's Gonna Kill Me
I think this is probably the strongest track on the album. Even with the fake trumpet at the end - Classic 80s fadeout though - give in to it!

No Mans Land
Sounds like the Skids. Yeah quite like this. Maybe a touch of Soldiers Diary with Enough Time here. Lyrics are a tad cheesy.

Lines
No comment. Maybe I'll appreciate this in 20 years or something? Had to skip.

Payday
This just washed over me if I'm honest. Some nice bass from JJ.

Down
This got a bit of stick but I actually quite like it despite the Lionel Ritchie melodics. If JJ wrote a follow up to Un Jour Parfait I'd like to see songs like this on it.

The Last Men on The Moon
I like the vocal effect. Sounds a bit like Colin Newman. Some nice keyboard work from Dave.

White Stallion
Let's get a little bit funky! For me this could be one of the strongest on the album. Sounds like a bit of "new" Damned but that's no bad thing. Agree with 8088 you could imagine a George Bush sample over the operatic bit.

Breathe
Obviously a great way to close the album. Has elements of "Life's Too Short" to it.


So in general I think this is a better album than Giants. I think it's more consistent than Norfolk Coast but I think NC just pips it. I'm just glad they didn't release another Giants. I'm also glad they've stepped away from rock n roll standards and started to experiment a bit more musically.

Thanks to JJ, Baz, Jim, Louie and of course Dave


Jim

[Greatkudu]

Wtf is the postie? I only live 200 yards from the delivery office. I'll give them 10 more minutes then I'll be round banging on their door.

Well just had a message my cd has been hijacked and is in Preston, arrives tomorrow. I have my Blunderbuss at the ready. Lt Kudu.

[8088]

Water was the shocker for me - genuinely thought I didn't like it...but then those glorious keys come in....

Will be even better listening to the hi-res version.

Dave and Lines still get the skip though - no change there.

[iain]

Once through, i like it.
Well, except White Stallion. That'll take a bit of effort, i think.

[Russ65]

If you can’t wait for the postman it’s on Spotify guys

[Jake]

Initial thoughts is that it would have been nice if JJ sang a few more, and I actually really like Down. I prefer Baz singing his own numbers as opposed to the classics, of which I am not huge fan of, sorry not meaning to upset anyone, just personal preference, of the Baz songs “This Song” seemed to grab me the most


Sonically this album is impressive, and good to hear an album that gives a lot of space to the instruments, the drum sound is impressive considering it’s the first (and last) album without Jet. I think it’s perhaps better than Giants as a whole, it’s early days but that initial light night listen I’d say 7/10 with the potential that it’s a grower; fave tracks for the record; Water, Dave and Down but I do need a few more listens.

[Josh]

First impressions are good. Agree with Jake that sonically the album is impressive.

[MiB81]

Bought the (vinyl) album back in May, it's due to be delivered by lunchtime today (Hurrah!)
Got an email from TM stores this morning offering digital copy of album, so forked out for
that too. So, my question- does this count as 2 purchases towards a chart placing?