Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The height of their powers, 4 Jun 2002
It's a rash music lover who doesn't pay heed to the musings of John Peel and during the playback of a session that Simple Minds recorded for his show to promote these albums, he speculated that they were "a band at the very height of their powers".
Certainly the band - unceremoniously and unfairly dumped by Arista after the record company misread the demand for Empires and Dance - were brimming with confidence and riding the flood of their creative juices. Placed by new label, Virgin, into the studio with ex-Gong guitarist Steve Hillage in the production seat, the band recorded a wealth of material, which resulted in a second album, Sister Feelings Call, being released free (initially) with its sibling, Sons and Fascination.
Ironically, years later Jim Kerr would blame Hillage for not imposing more discipline on the band and went on to suggest the songs could have been better arranged. Sometimes, he said, it sounded like there was more than one song going on in the same track. It's an exaggeration, I know, but it's like Monet saying that he wishes someone had made him paint more precisely; an artist decrying the elements of his work that made it so compelling.
At the time, though, the then evidently more artistically switched on Kerr did a fantastic job of turning the band's complex musical creations into songs. Certainly it's difficult to think of many vocalists who, confronted by the music, would fashion something so catchy as 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall or, indeed, would have the good taste to resist the urge to take part in the invigorating Theme For Great Cities.
In an unfortunate twist of musical history, this was to be Brian McGee's last album with the band, just as the powerful drummer appeared to reach his creative apogee. From the perspective of today's homogenised beats and drum sounds, the performances are even more astounding: his casual, easy management of In Trance As Mission's 6/8 signature through to the pounding, imaginative loop of Boys From Brazil. In retrospect, it is possible to see his departure as the beginning of Simple Minds' creative decline, although this wouldn't become evident for some time.
Overall, the albums are far more colourful than their predecessor; rich in melody and far subtler in their methods. The dark dramas are replaced by more evocative feelings of nostalgia on tracks like Seeing Out the Angel and Sons and Fascination, which contrast with the excellent upbeat singles: The American; Love Song; and Sweat in Bullet. However, the videos for these last two singles also revealed that the band's daunting creative vision did not extend to that medium.
Contrary to what you will read on the fan sites of those who adore the post Live Aid Simple Minds, I'd suggest that this is their finest hour, the essence of what made the band great. Released on CD simply as Sons and Fascination, with no liner notes, this release omits both Sound in 70 Cities and League of Nations, although they would have fitted onto the single compact disc. However, both can be found on the Themes releases of the band's 12" singles.
|
|
|
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second in trio of classic Simple Mind releases, 26 Mar 2004
This album, together with the previous "Empires and Dance" and the subsequent "New Gold Dream" see Simple Minds at their creative peak. Originally, "Sons and Fascination" was released with "Sister Feelings Call" as a double record package. That there is no padding of material on either record is testament to how much of a roll that the band were on. Thematically, the album is exploring images of America, but musically it is locked in a very European setting. Elements of Can, Neu, DAF and Brian Eno can be heard, but the band are treading their own distinctive path now. There is so much going on here. The opening "In Trance as Mission" sets the scene for the album. Derek Forbes bass straight away setting the rhythm over which Mick McNeils synths weave in and out. "Sweat in Bullet" is all rubbery bass. The beautifully haunting "This Earth that You Walk Upon" has some excellent atmospheric guitar by Charlie Burchill. He, together with the late John McGeoch from Magazine, were surely the most original guitarists to have come out of that time and both have never been given the credit they deserve. Just listen to the wah-wah guitar solo on "The American" for instance. This album is all widescreen vistas, energetic, bold and of it's time. Credit must be given to producer Steve Hillage. Though known at the time for his work with Gong and his own prog based solo albums, here he is pointing to his future techno work as System 7. The album didn't reach the critical or commercial height's which the following, "New Gold Dream" achieved, but at the time Simple Minds were seen as torch bearers for bold, new techno based rock. Today, the couplet of "Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call" still impresses and can be rightfully placed along with "New Gold Dream" in the canon of the great early 80's albums such as "The Correct Use of Soap", "Sulk", "Tin Drum" and "Penthouse and Pavement".
|
|
|
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Early 80's music that is simply mind'ful', 3 Feb 2001
By A Customer
Made in 1981 under the helm of Steve Hillage ( of Gong and dance act System 7 )this album never ceases to amaze me. From the first track 'In Trance As Mission'(a high guitar exploration of soundscaping wonder and slow vocals) to 'Theme For Great Cities'(a truly gliding instrumental fueled by Michael MacNeils keyboard wizardry, that manages to remain fresh and vital still in a world of dance and high energy music) to the earth chugging bass that reverberates through the spine in 'Love Song', this album is early Simple Minds offering us a chance to glimpse the sun from behind the clouds. This was their first truly great long player and paved the way for the classics to follow, 'Sparkle In The Rain' and 'New Gold Dream'. Jim Kerrs vocals remain bold sounding and magnificent against the intricate web of noise created by the band. If you are going to buy an 80's album that isn't an 'obvious' choice and stands out from the other acts of that era, i strongly advise you to purchase it today.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home