Henry The Human Fly [Remastered] - Richard Thompson

Advantages: interesting very very interesting
Disadvantages: too "interesting" in places

...If i could start by saying thet the babies being stamped on by anonymous stilletoes on the front cover are not real ones ,but it does grab your visual attention ,and if you are open minded enough to allow a band its "early period"then "Reproduction"can be a very rewarding experience ,there is little in the way of hits or even pop,but if curiosity gets the better of you after glancing at the cover then buy a ticket and jump on . This is the sound of the suburbs ,the suburbs of Shefield in or around 1978,at this point The Human League consisted of four blokes ,a couple of synthsisers and a slide projector and a warehouse load of ideas and concepts,none of them remotely linked to each other ,and giving the overall effect of a band not playing what they wanted but what they could manage ,and thats where the magic starts . Opening... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: The voice of an Angel ; Title track being one of the best folk rock songs
Disadvantages: Some weak tracks ; Not on the same par as Fairport Convention or Fotheringay

...has a sway to the lyrics and Thompson's guitar is so tranquil, such a great song to close your eyes to and drift away. The lyrics are irresistibly thought provoking, Denny not only has the voice of an angel but the imagination of one, each line seems to be written in another world of thought. ' To cross the wide sea I deserted, From the shore I did fly. I thought it time that I travelled, So I took to the roads of the sky.' 4. DOWN IN THE FLOOD - 3:19 A staccato driven take of Bob Dylan's Down in the flood classic which seems to be primarily centred around Richard Thompson's vocals. There is a far more tenor quality to the song with minimal Denny and minimal orchestral backing. The weakest offering on the album for me because it lacks the intensity of Denny's supremo vocals. But a good song which holds a quaint faint... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Superbly played, written and sung - and what a variety of moods
Disadvantages: None

...When Richard and Linda Thompson's marriage and professional partnership hit the rocks in 1982, both went solo - Richard had done so once before, after leaving Fairport Convention at the start of the 70s. In my view, the result was the best of his long career to date. He had a first-rate band behind him, consisting of three of his former Fairport colleagues, with folk stalwart John Kirkpatrick on accordion and concertina, and sax players Pete Thomas and Pete Zorn. Add Richard and his often underrated but incredibly potent lead guitar, and you've got an amazing rock'n'roll meets Cajun outfit. The songs were equally incredible, some of them naturally reflecting the traumas of his personal life at the time. "Tear Stained Letter" ('My heart was beating like a song by the Clash, it was writing cheques that my body couldn't cash... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic