Communion [Import]

Ever since their debut album `Welcome to Infant Freebase'; The Soundtrack of our Lives have always wanted to release a record as a double album, and apart from b-sides double album `Present from the Past' and five albums later they have finally made it. `Communion' sees Soundtrack spoil their fans with 24 tracks and over an hour and half worth of music. Many thought after 4th album `Origin Vol 1', Vol 2 would naturally follow however it was decided to postpone the project till a later date and go back to the studio with a fresh approach which would become `Communion'.

First of all, I'll give you the lowdown on disc 1. First track `Babble on' marches in making a bold statement about the bands direction and focus. The track builds up the pace nicely with a nice drum beat followed by a great riff which set the scene for Ebbot's vocals to join in at the 2.45 minute mark. The track peaks with Ebott exploding into the chorus with `Come on, Come on...'. A great start to the album and sets the bar high for the rest of the album.

This is by no means a one off and the standard on the first disc is very high. After `Babble on' it is like they are really trying to pull in the listener by rocking out hard. Then with the second track, `Universal Stalker' they are taking things a little bit easier and building back of the momentum through the rest of the tracks until reaching near boiling point through tracks `Thrill me', `Fly' and `Mensa's Marauders'. In particular `Thrill me' is undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the album with lyrics like `It's a simple world for the simple mind' which echoes the songs simplicity as it is just a bombastic rock song with neat guitar work and a catchy chorus. Similarly `Fly' like the name starts off slow and then takes off with a superb instrumental part towards the end.

The album then calms down with a relaxing finish to disc 1 with `Just a brother' which chirps along nicely at a steady pace as Ebbot's delivers the lyrics `if we can't find love, anywhere under the sun' with a fine precision and tact. The first side finishes with track 12 `Distorted Child' which returns to the previously upbeat rock song theme which is predominant for most of the first disc barring a few exceptions. The most notable thing about `Distorted Child' is the brilliant piano/keyboard which adds another layer to a great track and finishes off the first half of Communion in solid style. The question is can the second side match the high standard set on the first?

Well in comparison to the first side, Communion disc 2 starts off a lot more modestly with the opening track `Everything beautiful must die'. As Ebbot sings `Love gurning my soul' you may be so relaxed you fall asleep. But please don't! It is a wonderful track and again an excellent opener but in a completely different way to `Babble on' on the first side.

On appropriately titled third track `Flipside' on Disc 2 of Communion, its back to the upbeat melodies but with an acoustic guitar rather than electric with a fine piece of guitar work for the bridge section of the song. The fine acoustic work continues throughout this side with a particular highlight for me being track 6, `Digitarian Riverbank'.
After a predominantly acoustic first half of the second side; track 7 `Reconnecting the dots `ups the tempo once more as they step back into their rock and roll shoes as Ebbot sings `As we try reconnecting the dots' complete with a fine guitar solo which is short and sweet. Track 8 returns to the more relaxed pace before track 9 `Utopia' explodes out your speakers and is the `Thrill me' of Disc 2. You'll be singing `Utooooooooooooooooooooooopia' before you know it, such is the infectious nature of the song, great stuff.

The album closes as Disc 2 began, track 12 `The passover' finishes majestically with lyrics like `Someone is waiting for you.' Bringing to a close a much more relaxed and chilled out side barring a few exceptions. Should the few rockier tracks have been put on side 1? And the chilled out tracks from side 1 be put onto side 2? Personally I don't think so as I feel the way the tracks are positioned give a good balance to both sides of the album.

Overall releasing a double album is always a risky business, as you need double the quality of your usual studio album. I feel Soundtrack have surpassed expectations and is definitely one their best albums to date which is saying a lot considering the benchmark set on albums like `Behind the music' and `Origin, Vol 1.

Thank you Soundtrack.

Superb

PS. I bought the Swedish edition of this album, hence the reason this review is up before the release date.

Melodic powerful intelligent rock music. Yet again a brilliant album-and a double. This band should be massive. Why they are not, and Oasis are, is one of life's mysteries. Deserves 10 stars.

Their music is too smooth with all the rough edges smoothed off. It's more Fleetwood Mac soft rock than it is Pink Floyd prog rock. Although making a double album shows signs of ambition, especially in this age of single track downloads, it still doesn't mean the band is more than second division MOR soft rockers.

The album is pleasant and worth buying, just don't expect the music to have any teeth. The ironically boring cover art of middle aged people relaxing is actually more appropriate than it's (probably?) meant to be. The cover does represent the contents pretty well.

CD1 (48 minutes) 3 stars

1. "Babel On" - 6:24 (3 stars)
Insubstantial, lyrically just a bunch of "come ons".

2. "Universal Stalker" - 4:43 (3 stars)
Loud bits and slightly reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

3. "The Ego Delusion" - 5:04 (2 stars)
Nuts and blots bland track that does nothing for me.

4. "Pineal Gland Hotel" - 0:50 (1 star)
Very short, pointless song fragment.

5. "Ra 88" - 4:05 (3 stars)
Seemed okay but hardly exciting.

6. "Second Life Replay" - 5:24 (3 stars)
So-so but good loud ending.

7. "Thrill Me" - 3:12 (4 stars)
Enjoyable straightforward rock song.

8. "Fly" (Nick Drake) - 4:33 (2 stars)
A lot happens but very banal.

9. "Pictures Of Youth" - 4:34 (4 stars)
Moog sound reminds me of Air while the lyrics and singing remind me of early Who. Probably the best song on the album.

10. "Mensa's Marauders" - 2:22 (4 stars)
Great heavy guitar on this short hard rock track.

11. "Just A Brother" - 3:29 (3 stars)
Substantial key track but not particularly interesting.

12. "Distorted Child" - 3:44 (3 stars)
Rocks out quite hard and is enjoyable enough. Above average.

CD2 (45 minutes) 3 stars

1. "Everything Beautiful Must Die" - 4:50 (3 stars)
Nice but bereft of anything to get excited about.

2. "The Fan Who Wasn't There" - 2:27 (3 stars)
Melodic but too short and insubstantial.

3. "Flipside" - 3:24 (4 stars)
Vocal melody reminds me of The Kinks. Feels like a key track.

4. "Lost Prophets In Vain" - 3:35 (4 stars)
The singer sings with a deeper than usual voice. The vocal melody reminds me of the noted Oasis B-side "Acquiesce", specifically the Noel Gallagher backing vocals. Better than average lyrics as well.

5. "Songs Of The Ocean" - 5:54 (3 stars)
Very bland, by numbers track although it does sound nice enough. The guitars remind me of REM.

6. "Digitarian Riverbank" - 2:59 (2 stars)
Banal instrumental. Not pretty, melodic or interesting enough. Nothing happens. Filler.

7. "Reconnecting The Dots" - 3:54 (3 stars)
A bit better than average but still a by numbers track.

8. "Without Warning" - 3:15 (3 stars)
Mid-tempo ballad. Of no real merit but at least it sounds different to the rest of the album.

9. "Utopia" - 4:07 (3 stars)
Even smoother sounding than usual song. Has a slinky, sparseness to it that suggests a flat barren African landscape in my mind. Lyrically it's just the title repeated.

10. "Saturation Wanderers" - 3:27 (3 stars)
By numbers but rocks out a bit harder than usual. There seems to be a hidden instrumental after this song. It's short and pointless but not bad so only 2 stars.

11. "Lifeline" - 2:14 (4 stars)
Vocals dominate this pleasantly nice, sad little love song.

12. "The Passover" - 5:02 (3 stars)
Mid-temp track that builds up to a nice ending.

Soundtrack Of Our Lives - 1CD Version Of Communion
CD1 - 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12.
CD2 - 3, 4, 8, 9, 11 and 12.