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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Home Again is the first album from Edwyn Collins since his cerebral haemorrhage in 2005, which left the former Orange Juice frontman seriously ill in hospital. Don’t be fooled by the title, though. Recorded before Collins’ hospitalisation but only mixed after his recovery, this record isn’t so much a story of rehabilitation as and album written in the spirit of reflection. Much of Home Again, you see, finds Edwyn chasing his history, retracing his roots--see the ancient-sounding, folksy "Leviathan", written about Collins’ hometown in the East Highlands of Scotland, or "Libertinage Rag", which finds him singing "I’ll take a train/I’ll take a plane/Way up north, where they know my name/Where they don’t bug me/How some folk do" over deft, finger-plucked guitar and subtle percussion. Elsewhere, there’re songs of love and affection ("In Your Heart" and "One Track Mind"), a bluesy, Biblical stomp in the shape of "7th Son", and the gorgeous title track--a delicate, classic-sounding torch song that stands not just as a symbol of Edwyn Collins’ survival, but as a story of joyful salvation for any of life’s tired travellers. --Louis Pattison
Review
For many people the name Edwyn Collins is synonymous with one song - the 1995 guitar buzzing 'Girl Like You'. But the ex-Orange Juice frontman has produced a considerable amount of solo material that sadly failed to receive the attention it deserves.
Album number six, Home Again, is the first release since 2002's Doctor Syntax. But, more incredibly, it is a collection that he may well not have lived to see at all; Collins suffered a crippling brain hemorrhage in 2005 and has been recovering ever since. Here is an album that should go some way to persuade skeptics there is more to him than the one hit.
Recorded before Collins fell ill, it is a collection of songs drawing on themes of loneliness cut with a desire for self-understanding. But far from sinking into a slurry of emotionally overwrought musings, Collins tempers all yearnings with the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel approach (all the more apt in the context of his illness). When he veers too close to the abyss, he switches to lyrics exuding positivity and melodies that sparkle with hope. In doing so he avoids any encumbering sense of 'poor-me' syndrome.
'Leviathan' imbued with an immediate feeling of grandeur, a man on a mission to higher places, Collins sings: 'I stood on the edge of my world!but my haven was a cauldron of bile'. Slow building instrumentation creates a rousing feel, revealing an inner strength - there is a nagging feeling throughout that everything will be ok.
'One Is A Lonely Number' with its spine shivering strings also embodies this sentiment. 'If life breaks your heart, you needn't fall apart' is the lyric accompanied by steady woodblock and pensive guitar gently edging the song forwards, ticking on as life rolls relentlessly onwards.
But despite the odd track-halting moment such as the unabashedly bluesy knees-up 'Superstar Talking Blues', Home Again is an album that is likely to be more at home on Radio 2. --Gemma Padley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This chugs along acoustically for a bit on a sweet wave of quirky lyrics and good old fashioned tunes then bangs in two of the best songs you'll hear all year. Leviathan will find its way onto some brooding, dark indie movie soundtrack before you can frown - mark my words. It's a huge slo-mo tanker of a tune carrying more portent than a gulf-sea storm. It's In Your Heart then makes us feel all better again through the magic of being an all-time classic love song. Deserves a wider audience does this.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If you have reached this far my advice to you is to just press add to basket. I bought this a while back and would recommend it for those moments when you don't know what to play next... it take a few listens and covers a range of diverse styles... but it's clever stuff...
20 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As well documented the best part of this album was recorded before Edwyn took ill. After seeing the recent BBC documentery and hearing this album i'm sure we have not heard the last of this great man. Twelve well crafted tracks of sheer delight this is a life affirming album of folky, country tinged pop with a lot of soul. Not only is Edwyn back but he seems on fine form.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
SHOCKINGLY OVERLOOKED!!!
Wonderful, intelligent songwriting, from a man recovering from an illness that very nearly killed him. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mild Dill Hotpot
Under-rated artist
Good album, from a very under rated artist. His wife's (Grace Maxwell) book -[ASIN:0091930006 Falling and Laughing: The Restoration of Edwyn Collins]- is the honest, touching... Read more
Published on 15 May 2010 by David J. Livingstone
well worth a listen
it would be easy to get this album for the sympathy vote alone (edwyn was gravely ill not so long ago if you weren't aware) however it is worth buying for its own merits. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2007 by nik d
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