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Music Album Review (5017)

Hatful Of Hollows - The Smiths

Following the success of their self-titled debut album, The Smiths returned just 9 months later in the winter of 1984 with their follow up compilation album “Hatful Of Hollows''. This Includes many hits from their first and sees a continuation and growth artistically through morbid lyricism, quirky, fiery guitar licks and that distinctive Morrisey sound in typical Smiths fashion. 

As I finished the album I found that the organisation of the tracks was interesting. The record begins at a fast pace, driven by the 16th notes played on hi-hats on the opening track ‘William, it was really nothing’ this momentum continued into ‘What difference does it make’ and a more acoustic version of ‘This Charming man’. A  great spin off to the original which offers a new interpretation for the listener. However by the last three songs i felt the album had a drop in overall pace and had become much slower and more acoustically driven. A completely different sound to what I first heard at the start of the album. I like how this has been done, however I could see some listeners losing interest as the album progresses due to the loss of energy which does not pick-up again. 

The different masters for different tracks creates a unique and not just continuous final sound throughout the album. For example ‘This night has opened my eyes’ you hear the kick drum and the bass much more giving it a deeper mix. This versatility of final sound helps breathe fresh air into the album and makes it more diverse and interesting to listen to.

Overall I think this album holds up well to a lot of their other work. I personally found it a great way to start my Smiths journey as I was able to dive into a rich catalogue of music and with the different styles played within the album I was able to get a feeling as to why The Smiths were who they were.

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Music PR (5017)

Canadian based Indie giants Men I Trust are set to play an intimate one off show in the heart of London at the 606 club on the 11th of December. Packing a dreamy sound, Men I Trust will take to the 606 stage to play a 1.5 hour set to a limited crowd of 170 people with tickets on sale on Friday (3rd November). As part of their upcoming European tour the band added the special date at the 606 club to perform a special set and to promote their upcoming album. Doors from 7pm with the performance set to begin at 8:30pm allowing time for food and drink which the 606 club caters greatly to. This intimate concert is set to sell out fast so make sure you are quick to snap up your tickets.

Men I Trust are set to break the 606 code for “british based artists only” and bring their dream-pop, indie sound to central London. The band was formed in 2014 and since then have independently released four albums and two EPs. Their experimental sound consists of heavily reverbed guitars, punchy drums, soft sung lyrics with a dreamy synth and funky bass lines. This combination and great artistry creates for a music experience like no other and will give a great opportunity for you to have a dance and to understand the music the band creates.

606 is a great venue to Host Men I Trust to bring old fans and new together. The night will be a great opportunity for those who love all sorts of genres of music to experience a band who have a sound which consists of such things as Jazz rhythms whilst putting a modern twist upon the style. Not only that but their pop melodies and unique instrument tones create the potential for all ages alike to enjoy great music and leave craving more.

Regarded as “Future legends” by Billboard Magazine, Men I Trust are set to bring some of their finest work with songs like “Show Me How” along with new and unreleased music. As part of the performance there will be a small opportunity to ask questions and have a meet and greet with the band making it a truly immersive experience. The earworm that the band's music creates makes this unique performance a great opportunity for people of all ages, fans or not, to experience the truly unique sound of Men I Trust

The venue itself lies next to the Thames in Chelsea and is regarded as “One of the busiest jazz venues in Europe”. With great food and a cozy intimate space the 606 club provides the tools for a great night with top of the range catering and service. Those who visit are in for a night of fine dining and fantastic music. 

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Music Journalism (5017)

Picture this; It's 1983, you're sitting in the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, the lights dim and a sole man walks onto the stage holding a cassette player and an acoustic guitar. The backdrop has no colour and no change in stage level. Nothing to suggest that you were about to witness one of if not the greatest live performances/albums of all time. The crowd cheers and applaud as the man approaches the mic “Hi i gotta tape i wanna play”. 

Released in 1984 Talking Heads' now iconic ‘Stop making sense’ is both a live album and film shot across a string of shows at the Pantages Theatre in December of 1983. The concept of the show was to slowly introduce the wide variety of instruments used throughout the set which helped shape and influence Talking heads. The first song played was ‘Psycho Killer’ in which David Byrne(Guitarist and singer) played a faster, acoustic yet poppy version of the slow and darker original version from their first album. By the fourth song not only were the four core members on stage but there were backing singers, african drums, a percussionist, an extra guitarist and keyboard player. The stage was stacked with a large arrangement of musicians allowing for an even larger arrangement of genres and styles which gave Talking Heads their unique sound. This ranges from synthesisers to bongos as the band was very much influenced by Afro-beats. Their 1980 album ‘Remain in light’ consisted of tracks with a heavy lean and influence to African music, these same songs particularly (Once in a lifetime and Crosseyed and Painless) feature on Stop making sense. Remain in light paved the way for the band to develop, work together and experiment with African styled music. During the recording of ‘Remain in light’ they were introduced to Fela Kuti who is dubbed the inventor of Afro-beat. Brian Eno who was Talking Heads producer during this time was a massive fan of the musician and shared the album with Talking Heads, which eventually became the framework for ‘Remain in Light’. He states “I remember the first time I listened and how dazzled I was by the groove and rhythmic complexity”. The influence of African style music really helps push the energy of their songs and creates a wide dynamic of sounds which captivates the listener through the contrast of sounds and instruments which sees Western and African cultures connect. This influence carried on throughout their later albums and helped the band become pioneers of ‘new wave’.

One of the main reasons Stop making sense is so well known and considered one of the greatest performances is due to its continuous energy and the ability to entertain and perform so well. Throughout the performance every member is so into the music, you can tell by their movement, facial expressions and especially through the way they interact with each other. One of my favourite moments is when David turns to the backing singers and they all dance in unison to the beat of the music. The energy and enthusiasm reflects onto the rest of the band which ultimately turns it from a show into an exciting experience and makes you feel more part of the show. The movement and choreography is so simple but yet so effective. If you were to watch closely you would notice 90% of the choreography and dancing has some form of jumping involved. This to me is done deliberately as it adds so much energy to the performance and allows for some iconic moments. For example at one point the whole band are all running on the spot all in unison, it's a show which has a big focus on feeling the music and having energy to move! It's a great way to interact with the crowd and really get them moving. 

Stop Making Sense has become iconic with musical lovers all over the world through not only its fantastic artistry and raw energy but through its never-before-seen stage set up and outfits . What I personally find fascinating about the show is that the colours throughout are very neutral. The lighting is either white or peach coloured with no serious flashing or change in colour. The background is once again plain with only still images and small colour. Stop making sense as a performance concept is an anomaly, the lack of colour throughout the show and the bland clothing in which compared to artists like Michael Jackson or David Bowie makes it stand out and different. It gives the sense that the focus is on the music rather than the performance. This links to the message that David Byrne is trying to convey and it can be seen through his iconic large suit. David expresses that the big suit came from the idea that “music is very physical, and often the body understands it before the head”. Byrne said this was the idea behind the big suit .The suit remains a symbol for the band's legacy and is shown through examples of people having tattoos and dressing up in big suits on halloween. In an interview on the Letterman show David is asked about his odd movement on stage during ‘Psycho Killer’ To which he replies “It's the music, it's hitting me”. His musical influences and quirky, weird persona helps firment the performance as an all time great. It also helps portray Byrnes message that music is meant to be felt and not just used as a way to experience fake personas and big colourful lights. This can often dampen the actual music, or at least this is what I think the neutral colours and clothing is telling us as a viewer. 

For me ‘Stop making Sense’ is a timeless all time great concert film which shows a great band of the era performing at their very best. The artistry throughout is amazing, the stage, the crew, the idea behind it all and the energy that is given off helps build an amazing show and film. This concert film for me is the greatest live performance ever recorded.

 Ferrier, A. (2022). The music that inspired Talking Heads' seminal album 'Remain in Light'. Far Out.

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-music-that-inspired-talking-heads-album-seminal-remain-in-light/

 Quirk, j. (2021). One memorable look: Mr David Byrnes Supersized suit. Mr Porter.

https://www.mrporter.com/en-gb/journal/fashion/one-memorable-look-david-byrne-supersized-suit-9979044

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