After numerous listens to the album it still has me quite flummoxed! Fascinating!
There is no doubt that you will search for many a year to find an album title that comes anywhere close to beating this one and if it's got you scratching your head wondering what it's all about, then dear reader I have to tell you that after numerous listens to the album it still has me quite flummoxed!
I guess I was singled out to be asked to review this because of my previously stated ability to enjoy the weird and the wonderful: and this album is most definitely left field! I have certainly been enthralled by the myriad facets of a release that's almost impossible to categorise, and I reckon it is something that many of you reading this might care to investigate. Lasting for just over an hour, the 14 tracks on 'UFOs…' makes for an absolute roller coaster of a listen, with samples of all sorts sharing the disc with passages of sublime music in which the main instrumental contributions come from synths, guitars, drums and (gentle) saxophone. The overarching description 'progressive' is an appropriate one, I suppose, as it will steer away those of you who prefer an album comprised of nothing but relatively short and melodic songs. You really have to concentrate on all that is going on here, and I found that I missed so much until I put on cans – and even then you will need to give this rewarding album repeated listens. Although it has a number of serious messages, the material is at times presented in a very humorous way.
To quote from the information sheet that accompanies the promo, 'UFOs…' is "An album that's unique in its own right, pointing out numerous anomalies in a modern day environment that go back many years, and making the listeners question their own beliefs. Take yourself to a world of something that has been…and may very well be again, quite soon, until the end of time." So, you will gather the territory here is very much that of conspiracy theories wrapped up with political issues and subterfuge and also including a sprinkling of some of the world's greatest mysteries (for example the pyramids… )
To find out more about this release and hear some samples, I recommend heading off to www.silenttime.co.uk where you will also find information on how to make a purchase. It is an album of which Andy Radford (keyboards), Tom Davenport (drums and vocals) and Nick Stez (sax) and various character guests (including Martin Orford) can be justifiably proud. I guess that my Fireworks colleague Andy Brailsford can also take a bow: for he is the guitarist (although this is something he tried very hard to conceal from me!!) Fascinating!
Paul Jerome Smith
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