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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Acoustic music has become a bit of a byword for fey folkies singing the sort of slight pastoral tales that sound like they might blow away in a stiff wind, but on Dark on Fire, Turin Brakes-–the South London duo of Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian-–confirm once again that they do this unplugged thing with rather more gumption. Turin Brakes’ trade is rugged duets with the gruff vocal muscle of a Paul Weller or Kelly Jones and a heavy lyrical slant towards nature, celestial bodies and manly matters of the heart (it takes a blokeish sort of band to call the most emotional song on their album "Something in My Eye"). While it’s true that twin acoustic guitars remain at the heart of Turin Brakes’ sound, much here is fleshed out with added instrumentation: "Last Chance" gradually builds on a tide of synthesiser and tumbling piano, while "Stalker", with its driving bass and shimmering guitar licks, has something of the gothic 80s sound to it. It’s an inflated sound, however, that is careful not to overwhelm Dark on Fire’s more intimate modes of communication; take the moment on "Other Side" where the instruments suddenly drop away and emotions are suddenly laid bare: "I wanna be an old man," they sing, "With a suntan and a watering can". –-Louis Pattison
Product Description
2007 album! Loose folk 'n' heartfelt rock from the talented UK duo.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By M. Speller
Format:Audio CD
Hmmm.. One of my all time favourite albums is the 'Optimist LP' the first album Turin Brakes served up back in 2001. Excellent guitar melodies combined with first class singing delivery and in places mesmerising lyrics. The follow ups to this debut were just as good. First up was 'Ether song' which made a mockery of the so called challenging second album syndrome where they challenged themselves to create a truly atmospheric piece. Then with 'Jackinabox' they proved they could write more accessible music that oozed quality throughout.
So when I saw this album come out, I naturally picked it straight up and purchased it. Conclusion, well I am not quite sure. I think it is ok. Not groundbreaking, didn't make me sit up and take notice and realise that they put a lot of effort into this album. It just recovers old ground we have seen before through the past albums producing tracks of similar sounding to those on 'Optimist LP' and 'Jack In A Box' but without ever really hitting the nail on the head. I think a fair branding for Dark On Fire would be it is a collection of nearly songs. Nearly made it on to the album, filler songs. It is as shame. It is not that I don't like it, I do. But it floats out of my head as soon as I have listened to it.
The version of the album I brought had the extra 'Something Out Of Nothing EP' cd included. This saved the album. It was a bit more like the stuff I was hoping for from them. 'Invisible Boy' is especially good.
So overall, if you are a big Turin Brakes fan then go for it, but don't expect anything groundbreaking. If you are fancying a try, then go for any of the previous three albums.
*** Like :- Sebadoh, Kings Of Convenience, Tom McRae ***
So when I saw this album come out, I naturally picked it straight up and purchased it. Conclusion, well I am not quite sure. I think it is ok. Not groundbreaking, didn't make me sit up and take notice and realise that they put a lot of effort into this album. It just recovers old ground we have seen before through the past albums producing tracks of similar sounding to those on 'Optimist LP' and 'Jack In A Box' but without ever really hitting the nail on the head. I think a fair branding for Dark On Fire would be it is a collection of nearly songs. Nearly made it on to the album, filler songs. It is as shame. It is not that I don't like it, I do. But it floats out of my head as soon as I have listened to it.
The version of the album I brought had the extra 'Something Out Of Nothing EP' cd included. This saved the album. It was a bit more like the stuff I was hoping for from them. 'Invisible Boy' is especially good.
So overall, if you are a big Turin Brakes fan then go for it, but don't expect anything groundbreaking. If you are fancying a try, then go for any of the previous three albums.
*** Like :- Sebadoh, Kings Of Convenience, Tom McRae ***
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By C. Imrie
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved the early TB stuff, all atmosphere and really different, the first two albums are fantastic, the next and this one are a real let down.
Come on TB's you can do so much better than this.
If you like the early stuff, don't buy this - it's nothing like it.
Come on TB's you can do so much better than this.
If you like the early stuff, don't buy this - it's nothing like it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By C. Gomez
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was so looking forward to this album, everything else they've ever done is always top of my play list and I've never grown tired of them, even with constant listening. I have to say that I'm a disappointed with Dark On Fire. None of the tracks grabbed me instantly. I've listened to it more than ten times now, in case it's one of those albums that grows into a favourite (even though the previous two were love at first hearing), but it's just not there. As a previous reviewer said, it's a collection of "nearly" songs, there's just something missing. I hope they get it back.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Turin Brakes would have to have been my all time favourite band, and when i first heard of the new release a few months before it occurred i was jumping for joy and couldnt wait to be one of the first to get it!
Listened through once...not particularly satisfying...
after listening 2 or 3 more times trying to force myself to like it i just couldnt.
This is a completely different Turin Brakes from the days of Optimist and Jackinthebox. Very unoriginal songs, i noticed some songs sounding familiar to Janes addiction and others sounding like they were just trying to get a good number of songs on a cd.
I find it very hard to say that they are my favourite band anymore. If you are a fan of their old stuff dont be surprised if you dont like their new stuff.
Listened through once...not particularly satisfying...
after listening 2 or 3 more times trying to force myself to like it i just couldnt.
This is a completely different Turin Brakes from the days of Optimist and Jackinthebox. Very unoriginal songs, i noticed some songs sounding familiar to Janes addiction and others sounding like they were just trying to get a good number of songs on a cd.
I find it very hard to say that they are my favourite band anymore. If you are a fan of their old stuff dont be surprised if you dont like their new stuff.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I totally disagree with the previous review - this album is brilliant. Better than JackInABox and on a par with the first two. Last Chance, Dark On Fire and For The Fire are standout tracks. Shame Stalker was the lead single - it doesn't represent the quality within.
Yes, the sound is less accoustic, but the beauty is still there.
I'm still surprised that more people aren't buying their records.
Turin Brakes continue to be a cut above the rest.
Yes, the sound is less accoustic, but the beauty is still there.
I'm still surprised that more people aren't buying their records.
Turin Brakes continue to be a cut above the rest.
By clifftops
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've seen Turin Brakes 3 times and recently (2012) at the Stables Milton Keynes. Seeing them live again rekindled my enthuiasm for this band... and I filled-in the gaps in my collection. Well worthwhile. They deserve greater exposure.
By El-Vino
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've always been a huge fan of Turin Brakes, but somehow managed to miss this album. It wasn't until I saw them live last year and they played a couple of the tracks from it that I knew about it.
This album was definately a grower, but the talent of these guys shines through again, so its worth giving it a few listens, and by the end of it you'll enjoy it as much as any other TB album.
This album was definately a grower, but the talent of these guys shines through again, so its worth giving it a few listens, and by the end of it you'll enjoy it as much as any other TB album.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Turin Brakes are one of many bands who have hit the headlines with a Mercury nominated debut album, but have slipped from the limelight. I suspect that they prefer it that way, because it allows them to make music uncompromised by the expectations of those around them.
I wrote in my review of JackInABox that they were better than Coldplay, and this is still the case, for that reason.
This is their fourth album, following The Optimist, Ether Song, and JackInABox. This version also contains an EP of 5 tracks as part of a 2 CD set.
The tempo is high in the opening track, Last Chance, faster than any of their other opening tracks, but the tone is still dark, and the lyrics just as sinister as always.
Unlike other Turin Brakes albums, there's no stand out track for me. Title track, Dark On Fire, is a little more optimistic, but the bassline from Real Life is one of two songs that have a bassline out of Disco Inferno, which I found a little weird.
I think their earlier albums set the bar so high, that the good stuff now only sounds average. Out of the four albums, this would rank as my fourth favourite, but that doesn't make it a bad album.
I wrote in my review of JackInABox that they were better than Coldplay, and this is still the case, for that reason.
This is their fourth album, following The Optimist, Ether Song, and JackInABox. This version also contains an EP of 5 tracks as part of a 2 CD set.
The tempo is high in the opening track, Last Chance, faster than any of their other opening tracks, but the tone is still dark, and the lyrics just as sinister as always.
Unlike other Turin Brakes albums, there's no stand out track for me. Title track, Dark On Fire, is a little more optimistic, but the bassline from Real Life is one of two songs that have a bassline out of Disco Inferno, which I found a little weird.
I think their earlier albums set the bar so high, that the good stuff now only sounds average. Out of the four albums, this would rank as my fourth favourite, but that doesn't make it a bad album.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Flickering in the dark
After the sunnier aspirations of JackInABox, Dark on Fire signals a return to deeper, more considered territory for this, the fourth studio album from Olly Knights and Gale... Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2009 by Mark Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brakes back to their best!
The Optimist LP is one of my favourite albums of all time, and seeing the band live in the early 2000's were some of the best performances I have seen. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by R. J. Mitchell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crash a plane into my life
Somehow, the recognition that is lavished on many Britpop bands seems to slip right on by Turin Brakes. Read more
Published on 6 April 2008 by E. A Solinas
4.0 out of 5 stars
great new sound
What a present surprise when i put this CD on. I liked their previous albums, but feared they would continue on the same line as Jack in a box, meaning that this album would be... Read more
Published on 4 April 2008 by JRJ
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't ask too many questions.
An excellent piece of work from a top notch 'band' (can they be classed as a band, I'm not sure). Particular highs on the album are 'Last chance', the edgier 'Stalker' and the... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2008 by Mr. C. M. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Band on Fire!
Although some reviewers of this album are probably pining for the delicate tunes of the debut 'Optimist' anyone who is able to admire how a band can mature and push their... Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2008 by Stephen Holmes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ever seen 'em live...?
These guys are brilliant live, and it's only when you see them in the flesh that these songs really come to life. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2007 by el Duderino-Johnson
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