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Product Description
CD Description
Andabrek is the long awaited, highly thought provoking debut album from Stephen James. It is probably best described as a concept album and as such, is most likely to be fully appreciated when listened to from beginning to end. This painstakingly constructed keyboard based 'rock' was influenced by artistes as diverse as Howard Jones, Elton John, Jim Steinman, AC/DC and Art of Noise! The subject matter has a strong link to the theme of Patrick McGoohan's Prisoner, and it would be nice to think that he would have approved. This album may never top the charts but let's hope it at least reaches number six! Special guest appearance by Tom Baker (Dr Who IV & Little Britain).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Andabrek by Stephen James,
By
This review is from: Andabrek (Audio CD)
Andabrek - a strange title you might think. It is actually prison slang for the morning you get out - your day of release. This describes the strong theme of the album perfectly - we all make prisons in our own minds and this fantastic album takes us through the thought process of releasing yourself from that prison. One that we all make for ourselves. The music is painstakinglly constructed keyboard based rock, influenced by such artists as Howard Jones, Elton John and AC/DC. The tracks flow through with a beginning, a middle and an end. This is a refreshingly different and unique album and an added bonus is a special guest appearance by Tom Baker.
This album has been a long time in the making, but well worth waiting for. It is one you will want to play over and over again. I hope Stephen James gets the success he deserves with this album.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The thinking man's 80s-style pop,
By
This review is from: Andabrek (Audio CD)
While so many bands from the 80s are reforming and remastered copies of CDs from the same period flesh out the present mainstream market, there seems to be also a distinct presence of 80s pop/rock styles and idioms even amongst the new releases (at the time of writing, that is!!).
Stephen James's debut album `Andabrek' is an exquisitely well-timed release as it ventures into that sound world but let it be said that this is far from being a case of jumping on the band wagon. Yes, the songwriting is predominantly keyboard-based and combined with Stephen's dramatic vocal performances there are strong suggestions of styles which combine Howard Jones, Elton John and Barry Manilow (particularly during the more downtempo ballads such as 'Your Work Is Done', 'See You Tonight' and 'Be There'). But, aside from that and the electronic drive and tight programming of percussion effects in tracks such as 'Digital Destiny' (which is more than likely to keep fans of Thomas Dolby's early 80s music happy) the rest of it is less easy to classify....this is particularly evident as the epic instrumental 'Megamorphosis' begins with such ethereality (augmented handsomely as it is by the rich tones of `timelord favourite' Tom Baker) before plummetting forth into such rhythmic fury that it is enough to send you and your car stereo spinning off the road with excitement! Below the pop-infused surface of the music, there are more serious messages in the lyrics which explore familiar themes to do with the woes of modern society such as alienation, machinisation and entrapment (signified by the album sleeve imagery itself) but the album's conclusion is happily not as doomladen as it may be originally thought! In summary, `Andabrek' is an album which manages to combine thickly-layered, complex arrangements with more direct radio-friendly songs and yet manages to flow smoothly from start to finish. Combined with a strong message through the spine of the album's eleven songs....and yes, a touch of 80s sheen....this occupies a unique place among the latest CD releases of 2009. Recommended!!
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