Lauds And Lamentations - Heinz Holliger

Advantages: A wonderfully crafted album
Disadvantages: None

...tart a record up a bit. By 1971 Nick Drake couldn’t care anymore about any such niceties and merely felt the need to commit to music his own experiences. Perhaps recording Pink Moon acted as a sort of exorcism for him. If it did, it didn’t last long as some two and a half years after its release the clinically depressed Drake died of an overdose of sleeping pills (although it is not really known whether it was accidental or suicide). Pink Moon starts with the quirky two-minute title track. A deliberately awkward chorus sets the tone for the rest of the record, whilst the melody and beauty of the song comes in the verses. Drake’s guitar sound has been lauded by many a critic over the decades and on this opening track you get the feeling that this song (and this album as a whole) have always been tucked away, indelibly in the back of your... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Brilliant, Underated, Inspring
Disadvantages: Patchy

...I have had this record for 33 years and never tire of hearing it. Critically unpopular on its release it has outlasted its contemparies in my heart that were lauded to the heavens at the time (remember Sparks and the New York Dolls)? Its beauty and ethereal sounds thrill me still. Slick, Kantner and Frieberg, were able to assemble musicians and production (freed from group centred egos) that were able to transcend the crap sound of the late Airplane. Grace Slick (with the exception of White Rabbit) has never sounded better. Stand out tracks Flowers of the Night (inspiring rebel music), Harp Tree Lament, Whiteboy and Scetches of China. A couple of dud tracks you can live with but this record still inpires me evey time I hear it. All in all nine thumbs up.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: he can't be around forever
Disadvantages: cryogenics might advance significantly

...I wish someone would put this awful man out of my misery. If it was just the case that you could choose to listen to him that would be okay because I would not. However, he seems to be as ubiquitous as water. He’s either singing one of is dreadful dirges on the television or getting himself on the front page of the newspapers for suing some one (yet again). I wish I had been a lawyer at one of these trials. First questions: Would you consider yourself an honest individual? Why do you call yourself something other than your given name? Why did you insist for years that you were not a homosexual? Why do you pretend to be a man of the people when in fact you are just a spendthrift old git? No wonder the modern world is so f***ed up. Eminem (another git) is considered a bad role model while this chump is lauded all of the bloody... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful