Redcar was quite patchy. At its best it was great but there were also some low points. This new one is also patchy but in a more organised way. Discs 1 and 3 are really good but I wasn't so impressed with Disc 2.

I caved and bought the CD, which turned up today in a CD fatbox *.* not seen one of those for a long time.

Really loving this album, moreso than Redcar :wub: loved the pre-release tracks but Full of life (one of the few uses of that sample to genuinely capture the emotion that the original makes me feel), We have to be friends, I met an angel, and Lick the light out are all really calling to me right now. Nothing is ever gonna beat La vita nuova for me but this is such a gorgeous listen. I expected to be disappointed by Madonna's input being just spoken-word but it works so well here.

 

I was lucky enough to see Chris live on release day, which did mean not knowing half the songs but UGH such a show. Monologues and poetry between each song (which normally I'd find pretentious but really added to the atmosphere), costume changes, even the backing musicians were part of the 'storyline'. Definitely helped me to connect even more with this!

I can’t get enough of this, it’s so impressive.

Not many artists could get away with a 20-track, 90+ minute album – with this, I’m ready to start it all over again by the time it’s finished, it’s that good.

 

SO many highlights but that 1-2-3-4 punch of Tears can be so soft/Marvin descending/A day in the water/Full of life is really something. What a way to start an album.

 

Up there with the best of the year for me, might even be my favourite overall so far. What a star, I’m desperate to see him live again.

I’m a bit annoyed they didn’t do Lick the Light Out or A Day in the Water at Glastonbury, I don’t mind not doing the hits but those are my two highlights on the new album and they were snubbed!

Can I just say this album is absolutely amazing, I heard one song on radio 1 relax and decided to listen to the album. Absolutely astonishing. Favourite album in a very long time

Agreed with the recent praise for this… it grows every time I listen to it, a huge step up from Redcar.

 

I’m not sure anything will ever top their debut for me but this is probably second in my affections now

The Way Out West performance was a mess, let's just leave it at that. Technically competent, but you don't do "performance art" in front of a largely casual audience. I was right at the front and I heard audience members mutter "I don't know any of these songs" as they were leaving. It was painful trying to be the lone hyped audience member.

 

Ouch.

Although part of me just thinks it's the ultimate punk move.

Edited August 11, 20231 yr by tommie