Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Highs and Lows, but a lot of potential, 17 Feb 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Water Sign (Audio CD)
Slowly but surely I have bought Chris's entire collection. Water Sign was one of the last I bought as I slowly made my way to his first album. I think Chris Rea's great, and the three stars refer to the strength of this album compared with Chris's others. I had already heard 'Candles' and 'Heartbeat' on 'New light Through Old Windows', which I really liked. However, they are not the 'stand-out' songs on this album. Instead, 'Midnight Blue', 'Deep Water', 'Texas' and 'Out of the Darkness' prove pleasant (not brilliant) surprises. The album features heavy use of bass and synthesisers, and surprisingly little of his slide guitar. The songs have a lot of potential, but the production lets them down. 'Candles' and 'Heartbeat' are examples of this: 'New Light Through Old Windows' did them far more justice. So, all in all quite good and definitely worth buying if you like Chris's other work but not one of his 'stand-out' albums.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It so nearly didn't happen!, 22 Jun 2004
This review is from: Water Sign (Audio CD)
There is an extremely interesting history to this album: When Rea approached the record company with his demo's for his latest album project - 'Watersign' - they showed very little interest at all... Eventually, the record company agreed to release it AS IS, and didn't promote the album at all. Rea actually said in interviews that after this album he considered packing the whole thing in and going to work in the family ice cream business! What you are hearing on this album is a rare 'peek' into Rea's music BEFORE the studio producers got to it. There is a reason why Chris gets the credits as main musician on this album: It's a DEMO album, recorded by him! For pure interest value alone, it's a worthy addition to your Rea catalogue. However, that's not to say that the music on this album ISN'T worth listening to-it most certainly is. The oh-so-beautiful Nothings Happening By Sea - gorgeous in it's laid back simplicity... Simply brilliant stuff... The record company are probably kicking themselves!!!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rea gets going......., 11 July 2005
This review is from: Water Sign (Audio CD)
This was Rea's last chance LP - His previous 3 hadn't really sold that well and the record company were prepared to give him one last shot. The album cover seems to sum up the way Rea must have been feeling at the time, he cuts a "doleful" figure on the cover! However, left to his own devices Rea really pulled a classic out of the bag, Starting with the superb "Nothing happening by the Sea" he then goes through quite a range of style's even including a stab at "80's electronica" with "Out of the Darkness". It contains the original and best version of "I can hear your hearbeat" and the atmospheric "Candles". Every track is strong and you will not be let down by buying this one Rea really got goings after this LP and went on to have a run of 4 or 5 classic's throughout the 80's, but this is where it really started and I would encourage you to purchase it ASAP!!
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