This was our 9th album and second to be released on CD, way back in 1997. Like the previous few albums it was recorded onto multi-track reel-to-reel tape. I only had 8 tracks to play with (the mind boggles!), so there was a considerable amount of overdubbing and bouncing to stereo pairs involved! Not to mention some syncing to DAT!
Anyway, what came out must have been pretty decent as the album garnered some great reviews and quickly sold out of its initial 1000 disc pressing.
Ken Senior once again returned to sing on 6 of the 9 tracks.
One of the most interesting things about this album is that all the electric guitar parts were recorded using a Marshall JMP-1 Valve Midi Pre-Amp! Loved that thing. The guitar sound on this album is very sharp and incisive.
My favourite track is Stars That Cry Your Name. This was originally a blues rock number called Cheerless and Used, on which I sang the lead vocals (yes, I do have the demo!) and, I kid you not, played blues style guitar – something I rarely do. Needless to say, Ken totally owns this version of the song and the acoustic guitar solo is really nice.
And So It Goes has a terrific melody and is also another standout. Lyrically not too obtuse and the guitar sound on the lead is emotionally resonant.
In amongst the above highlights, we have a whopping title track that took up all of one reel of tape. It’s big in every way, both musically and lyrically.
Overall, this is a good album with some very strong material and performances.
For the remaster, I cleaned up some noise, added a little bit of sparkle to the high end, fattened up the bottom end and applied a tiny bit of compression. Overall, it’s a genuinely marked improvement over the original.
Have a listen and let me know what you think.
Release Info
| Label | Cat No | Release Date | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proximity Records | ESDD20211015 | 15th October 2021 | Download | Buy |
| Proximity Records | ESDL 09 | 2013 | Download | Deleted |
| Proximity Records | ESCD 09 | 1997 | CD | Sold Out |
Tracks
- Whenever I Close My Eyes (7.08) *
- Stars That Cry Your Name (4.37)
- Fear Of Rejection (7.18)
- Hearts In Harmony (5.04) *
- And So It Goes (8.29)
- Reversal Of Time (14.26)
- The Light That Used To Shine (4.15)
- Spinning Through The Years (13.28) *
- Like Shadows Again (8.21)
- Instrumental
Line Up
- Steven McCabe: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Organ, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesisers, all Compositions and Arrangements
- Ken Senior: Lead and Backing Vocals
- Frederick Retless: Bass Guitar and Midi Bass
- Peter J. Douglas: Drums, Percussion, Samples and Electronic Kit
With
- Kevin Whittle – Violin, Viola
- Kim Phibble – Clarinet, Oboe
- Jonathan Heaver – Cello
- Christopher Farquarson – French Horn
Credits
All tracks recorded between September and December 1996 at Propinquity Studios, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Mixed and digitally mastered January 1997.
Produced and engineered by Steven McCabe
Originally released on Proximity Records CD ESCD 9, 1997
This version remastered between 03/10/2021 and 09/10/2021