- Audio CD (21 July 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Honest Jons
- ASIN: B00009YFVD
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 106,323 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When label co-founder Damon Albarn asked Terry Hall to make a solo album, The Hour of Two Lights was set to be produced by former Fun-Da-Mental member Mushtaq. However, it soon became apparent that this pair had an instant musical rapport, so the project rapidly became a joint effort. All manner of musicians and styles are jumbled into the mix, but Hall and Mushtaq keep these disparate elements under control, shaping a unique sound. They suggest "contemporary nomadic" as a possible filing category, with numerous guests combining various Eastern European, North African and Middle Eastern backgrounds to create a hybrid music that makes Hall's disenchanted, slow-coach delivery even more unnerving than it was on his work with the Specials and Fun Boy Three.
Strings swoop in directly from Cairo, supporting silvery oud, trilling ney flute and rattling goblet-drums, all laid down on a humping bed of traditional drum breaks. Most of the tracks find Hall duetting with a succession of guest vocalists, but where comparable projects would feature various pop star pals, this outing's collaborators are mostly complete unknowns, swapping lines in Arabic, Hebrew or Romany. Hall keeps his own morose couplets simple and abstract, avoiding any specific references, even though there's an implicit political content to these sessions. It's a shame, though, that the sleeve doesn't feature more detailed credits, broken down into song-by-song listings, particularly when there's such an impressive roster of guest musicians on board. --Martin Longley
Review
On seeing the line up on this recording you might expect a world music album founded on acoustic improvisation, an underground dj album or a pop album. After all it involves music from three continents, one of the hottest dj producers around and a successful pop musician fronting it. In fact it's none of these. It's a political and musical recording of racial minorities and cultures by two of today's pioneers of modern popular music.
Terry Hall found fame in the eighties leading pop bands like The Specials and Fun Boy Three. Mushtaq is much newer to the scene and has gone solo since leaving the British-Asian band Fun-Da-Mental, deeply immersed in beats, breaks and turntablism. Together they have assembled a vast diaspora of Asian, Arabic, Hebrew and Gypsy musicians.
"Grow" opens the set with what sounds like a call to prayer (or to listen), the vocals of a 12 year old Lebanese girl and radio samples of people going about their lives in a far off place. The penultimate song is called "Stand Together". The message is clear. The result is tight and interesting, amusing and menacing.
Immediate tracks like"A Tale Of Woe", "Stand Together" and "Ten Eleven" feature Terry Hall singing over a heavy mix of folk rhythms and hip-hop beats. Singers ranging from Romany gypsies to an Algerian rapper join him. Terry's sparse vocals, pop nature and cynical tone may not be to everyone's taste but he does not allow his voice to dominate the set.
Producer Mushtaq maintains equality between the different musical cultures which he mixes into a global soundscape. Although many of the tunes have a pop hook this doesn't detract from the point of this recording. There are numerous nods to the wider impact of folk music. The gypsy beat in the haunting title track is straight out of Bizet's Carmen. "They Gotta Quit Kicking My Dog Around" is given over entirely to the Polish gypsy group Romany Rad.
In other hands this project might have over-reached itself. The Hour Of Two Lights is a powerful and brave piece of music that benefits these multi-cultural times. --Ollie Davies
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The 3rd solo album from Tery Hall is released on Damon Albarn's Honest John label,who released Albarn's world music album 'Mali Music' last year. Long time friend Albarn encouraged Hall to make another solo album and it was Hall�s own growing interest in Jewish and Arabic music that led him to produce this multicultural diverse album that is very different to his previous solo albums,although not a million miles away from the sound of 'The Specials'. He probably did not have enough expertise in this area of music to produce the album himself,and so he eventually teamed up with former Fun-Da-Mental star Mushtaq, and brought in many Arabic, Jewish and Gypsy musicians to create a dazzling work in which Hall takes a back seat for much of the album, in much the same way Albarn did on Mali Music.His whispering Marc Almond-esque voice suits the hypnotic Middle Eastern sounds perfectly, and while Hall is obvious on the record it is almost perfect.The only times the quality drops is when Hall is absent,as the Arabic sounds and wailing become repetitive without Hall's fine voice present. It�s great to have one of Britain�s most distinctive singers back on what is his best work for many years.Lets all hope he can produce an official website as it is very difficult to find out what Hall is up to.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Utter tosh?? Not at all. This CD needs to be viewed seperately to any Terry Hall release. It is simply music of the world played with no pretense & a lot of fun & gusto. Every song captures the smiles I'm sure the musicians had while recording them. My only quibble would be that the beat programming is a little limited & reminds me a little of The Gorillaz, who I didn't really want to hear in this recording. But, apart from that a wonderful feel-good piece of musical unity.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is the best thing I have listened to all year. It has been a long time since I felt as moved by music as I did by listening to this collection. The range of instuments is fascinating, the quality of the vocals is magnificent and the flow of tracks makes you feel you are on a musical tour. The more I listen to it the more I get from it - a truly spiritual and uplifting event. All I can say is - buy this CD - you won't be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A masterpiece!
This album is very special, it's one of the finest things I've heard in the last five years or so, and is one of my all-time favourite lps. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by Pseudonymous
The Hour of Two Highlights
My musical christening was granted to me by Terry Hall as the deadpan singer in The Specials and although it took some time for me to forgive him for breaking up the band the... Read more
Published on 1 May 2008 by Ian Wood, Author of 'Here's 2 Absent Fathers'
Simply Exceptional
This is a beautiful, sophisticated and intelligent collaboration. Terry Hall's trademark understated style blends effortlessly with the talents of Mushtaq, and those of musicians... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2008 by Lucy Matthews
Fantastic
This is such a fantastic album it HAS to be listened to. Be prepared for something a little different, open your ears and experience a totally new sound. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2006 by Steven Turnbull
Songs to heal the world?
Terry Hall and Mushtaq have created an anguished, haunting and yet spirited and uplifting response to the September 11th atrocities and the ensuing "war on terror". Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2003 by Sukebind
what utter tosh.
When people say they are a fan of an artist, they may have a few CD's, may have seen them live once or twice or had some kind of school boy/girl crush on them. Read more
Published on 31 July 2003 by Ward-Minter
Terry Hall Makes a Spectacular Comeback Album
We all knew he could do it and here is the proof! Terry Hall has used all his talent and ingenuity (with a help from former Fun-da-Mental member Mushtaq and others) to produce an... Read more
Published on 22 July 2003
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