Children - Mission (The)

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...Formed from the ashes of the phoenix that was the original Sisters of Mercy, the Mission were hailed as the new kings of ther goth scene. They lived up to the challenge for a number of years but with the release of their second album, Children, there was the beginnings of a change afoot. The pure goth vibe of the first album had been added to, there was now a swathing rock guitar layer in amongst the familiar sounds. Whilst at the time the goth black mafia saw this as a sell out, I think it resulted in one of there most enduring albums. Throughout there are still the intricate twelve- string inputs from Wayne Hussey, still his deep and soulful voice, the low ended bass lines, and the driving beats of a real drum kit (something of a novelty in the early goth scene) and the lush harmonies provided by their regular guest , Julianne Regan... Read review

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...The Mission where always a band that constantly evolved album to album. Where as their contempories from the gothic movement, the Sisters of Mercy, The Fields of the Nephilim and such remained fairly close to their roots, the Mission went through many phases. After paying their dues in the dark drug-fueled gothic club scene, the band released a compilation album, The First Chapter, followed by the first proper album, Gods Own Medicine. Both of these were representative of scene and what you would expect from a band two of which were Ex-Sisters Of Mercy. By the time the second album, Children, was released the band were taking more of a rock stance, the gothic imagery was still in place but the music was better described as rock, albeit a dark edge brooding rock. By the time of 1990s Carved in Sand, the Mission had left behind them... Read review

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Advantages: Everything
Disadvantages: Not enough mention

...their chairs, turn it on and turn it up. That's what I did. The first few lines of this song really caught me, if you know the tune sing the words, but if not, still sing um for damsake: “Make yourself at home, Sit back in your throne, turn off your phone cos this is our zone, Videos, 64’s, Playstations, Web Henry with precision, Few herbs and a bit of Benson, But don’t forget the Rizzla, clean light the tower of Pisa, Please ya, always ya and this is a day in a life of a Geezer. For this aint a club track, pull out your seat and sit back, Whether you like a black smoke, chase...two, Were on a mission support the call sign and petition, The music's a gift from the man on high and the lord and his children” Listening to this made me feel like I had a connection with the bloke who sang... Read review

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Advantages: Well-produced
Disadvantages: Flat and uninspiring

...The Mission are a curious band in a way, still going and not only that but still going on in much the same way as in their late 80s heyday. The question, however, with every release since about 1992, has always been and continues to be: Does this new album match up to their classic albums "The First Chapter" and "Children"? Certainly with their two albums they made in the mid to late 90s this was not the case. Then they suddenly returned to form with 2001's "Aura". And so the question this time round is perhaps a little different: Is the newfound form they discovered with the Aura album maintained on this release? I would have to say it isn't- not because this isn't decent or well-produced music- it's just that their new album, "God is a Bullet", sounds a little... well, flat. The first track of the new album, Still Deep Waters... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic comeback
Disadvantages: It wasn't marketed well enough...

...through 1999 and onwards, so there had been a glimpse of a few ofthe tracks, but even the most optimistic Mission fan would secretly have been breathing a sigh of relief that when "Aura" finally manifested itself, it was a gem and not another album of neither-here-nor-there middle-of-the-road rock. Aura is, quite simply, The Mission back to their best. Dispensing with the indie-rock no-mans-land territory that their last three albums (including 1992's "Masque") had fitted into, this album is a return to the bombastic goth rock of their heyday. Okay, so there aren't any tracks quite on a par with "Tower of Strength" or "Beyond the Pale" from the "Children" album, but this is still a stunning comeback considering the dross that they had been coming out with for the previous ten years or so. The tracks are: 1. Evangeline 2. Shine Like the Stars... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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...The Mission where always a band that constantly evolved album to album. Where as their contempories from the gothic movement, the Sisters of Mercy, The Fields of the Nephilim and such remained fairly close to their roots, the Mission went through many phases. After paying their dues in the dark drug-fueled gothic club scene, the band released a compilation album, The First Chapter, followed by the first proper album, Gods Own Medicine. Both of these were representative of scene and what you would expect from a band two of which were Ex-Sisters Of Mercy. By the time the second album, Children, was released the band were taking more of a rock stance, the gothic imagery was still in place but the music was better described as rock, albeit a dark edge brooding rock. By the time of 1990s Carved in Sand, the Mission had left behind them... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful