Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More related to jazz, 5 April 2007
I was delighted with this double disc set, these are 3 reknowned musicians obviously enjoying feeling their way with eachother and is more related to some of the jazz albums I own than Andy or Barrys previous pop work.
The ghost of Miles Davis wanders through some of these recordings as does the work of Can and a few other experimental artists
The Independent made it 'Album of the Month'' so someone has their head screwed on.
If you're willing to open your ears these discs are a real delight and take you on quite a journey.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome reunion................................but wheres the songs?, 3 April 2007
I am actually one of those people who believes that Andy Partridge is the great unsung hero of British pop,so upon hearing that he was recording with former X.T.C. keyboard player Barry Andrews i was filled with a sense of enthusiasm for the possiblities this renewed partnership may bring.
Well, this cleverly packaged double set gives a major clue to its contents by stating "there was no rehearsal or discussion about key,tempo,or feel and no overdubbing, it just came out like this".In itself this is no problem,and to be fair the instrumental music on this double set is generally easy on the ear,sounding in parts jazzy,ambient,and psychedelic.It's just that i cant help wondering what the point is in putting out a 2 cd set of musical doodles,when the talents of Partridge and Andrews are capable of much greater things.
Monstrance is not a hard album to listen to,and tracks like Winterwerk,Pagoda Tailfin,and The Floating World show off the admirable musical talents of all the players. The album is not short of good ideas its just that i would have preferred them to have been used in a more structured way rather than left as formless as they are on the album.
For any fan of Andy Partridges more experimental work this album will be very welcome,for the rest of us,i suspect this album will remain a curiosity,but never essential.
Maybe that was Monstrances intent!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
its not xtc and all the better for it, 19 May 2007
You got to hand it to Partridge. When fans of his XTC work are crying out for a new product, out pops a Barry Andrews,Martyn Barker collaboration.Anyone who has a clue about Partridge's history, will know his love of free form, check XTC B-sides out. We have read about the accolade of the greatest songwriter of the late 70's, 80's and a bit of the 90's. I, like a few people who appreciate Andy Partridge's work, can stand back and take an objective look at his songwriting, have come to the conclusion. This accolade has become an Abletross, boredom has set in.
Monstrance is fresh, up to date and powerful and the tracks are fused together, stiched by noise and rhythm. The washed over guitar and keyboard layers melt into the movement of Barker's playing. Monstrance is the new dawn in Partridge's career and what a dawn to wake up to. Just hope the tinnitus improves, for a Monstrance 2 too come forth.
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