FRANCES THE MUTE

Yes it is late in the piece to be writing a review. I have just found this site. Having had this CD for several months I was intrigued to see what people had to say. My first question was: does anyone really understand the lyrics apart from the broad gist of the story? - answer NO. This is fine. We listen to African music, German and Italian classical music usually with no greater understanding. I think this is the way to approach this music and this way there is no frustration. Just images and splashes of mood. Secondly, what did people think of the ambient linking sections? Huge divergent opinion. I think they generally work well. Music is all about context and set-up. The 4 minute lead-in to track 4 feels just right to me. We have had some musical assault and battery and need to sit back and build into the next song. Much more emotive in this context I think. Yes, this CD needs a close listen. As background it can be irritating. I have found digesting it in chunks at first, I can now listen to the whole thing and find it extremely creative and interesting. Moving, even! Some sections are exhilarating. Glad I persisted I don't know if it's a classic. With music that often depends on how your life is going when you first hear it. (Apart from OBVIOUS classics like Kind of Blue - Miles Davis, Abbatior Blues/Lyre of Orpheus - Nick Cave, fill in your own eclectic choices here) But it is certainly worth having.