Calling Out Of Context

Right...

Where to start with this beautiful monster of an album...?? If you could imagine a playful, humungous blue whale, smiling, drifting in the bluest of oceans - with all its grace, innocence, beauty, wonder and strength. That is what this album encompasses.

Everything true. To be honest - For all I know these songs could be of deep psychological pain (and probably a few are) but the the joy and staggering simplicity in both Arthur's lyrics (which i've probably misheard most of!) and the music just completely overpower any melancholy and make me smile. Genuienely smile. What other statement could be as endearing as that found in, 'Arm Around You'?? Arthurs complete lack of arrogance and childlike playfulness is utterly overwhelming. These songs... If your upset with someone and you listen to this record with an open heart... it just makes all of the petty, useless, negative things that we can often get bogged down in seem utterley pointless (which I suppose they are!!). But I cant help feel incredibly, emotionally overwhelmed at the beauty of life whenever I hear this record... 'As hard as I can be... It's never too hard... It's a wild combination'

If Arthur was looking to break human hearts in two and at the same time crack their skulls open to appreciating the beauty of those you love then he succeeded and then some. To say this record is touching is to do it a grave injustice.

Theres so much here to listen to in absolute wonder... thats before we even get into how ahead of it's time this music actually is (which I wont). Of special mention is the 89 second cut You Can Make Me Feel Bad which is possibly one of the most fantastic pieces of music i've ever heard. Its so affecting, mesmerising and precious - i can never tire of it.

So there you have it, this is expansive... joyful...heartbreaking and reassuring -it's everything if you care to look for it. A massive, big smiling blue whale of an album. Buy it and buy it again for your best friend. It's astounding. I wish more people could slow down and listen to this work of wonder.

Much love x

This is the best CD I have heard in 2010. A hybrid mix of disco, quality songwriting, and fuzzed out minimalist New York no-wave which somehow manages to be warm, approachable and yet totally far out and highly individual. I've not heard a bad Russell disk yet, but this one is the best.

Well I've just found this guy thanks to an article in a magazine, and listening to this beautiful unique music its very hard to come to terms with his lack of fame.

He is, as the piece I read described him, The Disco Nick Drake. His music is astonishing but was not full appreciated when he was alive. He collaborated with Talking Heads and modern classical composer Philip Glass, but was also a fixture on the New York Disco scene of the 1970s.

During the 21st Century though he has begun to become something of a posthumous cult figure - and his name is building.

This album goes a long way to explain what all the fuss is about. It features Russell's ethereal voice, often given an echo, and his mournful cello playing, with minimal backing from beat boxes and keyboards. It sounds utterly contemporary.

The Nick Drake comparison is appropriate not just to his posthumous belated acclaim, but to the mournful sweetness of his music.

Russell died of AIDS in 1994 aged just 40. An amazing musical career cut short. This album is a good place to start exploring it.