Rating: 4 Pulse
Some music I listen to makes me happy and some makes me unhappy. The music the Winslow Family Band has created makes me both.
The CD was created following a simple concept: bring seven musicians together and let them all write a single song. Then, produce and record all seven songs together. The idea was that each member of the band create his song based on a specific color (which they drew from a hat). The resulting collection of songs is interesting, to say the least.
Instrumentation is a variety of horns, guitars, keys, bass, drums, pedal steel and a few other instruments. There are no vocals in the whole album. The feel is a cross between progressive rock, jam rock, and what I would call an artistic collection of noises. Most of the album is obviously not meant to be focused on in a pop sense, but the resulting atmospheric effects are excellent. I like to put this album on and turn the volume just below the level of conversation. It is an interesting collection of feelings and thus would make an excellent movie soundtrack.
Stand out songs are song one (Red), and song four (Green). Really all the songs fit fairly well together though, so none could be said to be better than any other. The difference I think is that the mixing and mastering styles create dynamics that make certain songs stand out above the others in actual volume. Some songs are actually louder than others. This may trick the ear into believing one song is stronger than the others, when in reality this is nothing more than a method for arrangement of a successful collection of songs (an album). I think it works well.
Overall, this group has done well and this CD is worth a listen where an atmospheric album is called for. I would be glad to see them live also because I get the impression that my eardrums would not be too heavily bombarded, and that I could actually leave the event with all my hearing intact and maybe feeling a bit more exercised due to some dance-like movements.
“Mmmm relaxed,” my Japanese friend said. Dream away little June.
