Into the Blue

Advantages: Elegant, modern, traditional yet unique
Disadvantages: Not enough people will ever listen to it

...Max Richter's The Blue Notebooks meant nothing to me until suggested that I might enjoy it. Fair enough, says I and so I went to take a look at reviews. I found little but what I did find intrigued me. I also found you couldn't buy it. Well, there goes that idea. Anyhow. Suddenly finding myself in Rough Trade in Covent Garden (nope, it's not a brothel), browsing amongst the Philip Glass and the Brian Eno I discover The Blue Notebooks. I run to the counter (well, running is impossible in RT) and pay my money. Once home I put the CD into the stereo and await the results. I've built Max Richter up in my mind for some reason and suddenly there's dread. This will be a DISAPPOINTMNT as it really can't match up to my expectations. Oh, foolish, foolish man that I am. The Blue Notebooks surpassed my expectations completely... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Some amazing, original tracks
Disadvantages: Not to everyone's taste

..., yet very true and done in a very casual style which has me absolutely hooked. The background music is great, not prominent, blending into the background and emerging only when necessary, it allows our attention to be given to BB and the lyrics. 9/10 Track 16 - Ace and Invisible drop Track 17 - London N.E.W.S. - Baby Blue, Sway, J2K & Incisive This track was always going to be amazing, it features four of the BEST rappers in London and they do sound fantastic. This song is another aggressive one which is not to everyone's taste, but it really is worth a listen. This is BB album so I will mention her part in the song, she does add that ingredient with gives the song another sparkle, her female voice contrasts the men and makes the track even better, well in my opinion anyway. 9/10 Track 18 - The world will know This song sounds... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Some decent rhythm and blues
Disadvantages: Film dialogue in the wrong places

...and that's exactly what this song is. It's a guitar led, generic blues number which doesn't really stick out above any other blues song you've heard before, although it's still a decent enough song. It worries me, however, that the song is so generic I keep thinking it's about to segue into the Lisa Simpson song "Moanin' Lisa Blues" from the "The Simpsons Sing the Blues" album. Whilst I do like hearing it as an accompaniment, I've never really rated the harmonica as an instrument in its own right. For me, that makes John Popper's "Harmonica Musings" a filler track. It's impressive enough and John Popper is considered one of the best players around, but it's just 30 seconds of a waste of space, although it does start sounding a little like Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips" right towards the end. Finally, four tracks in, we get to hear from one... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful