02-05-2021, 16:10
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA ~ The Million Masks of God
![[Image: R-18494023-1619596970-8493.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/aOMDZFH0gsbqvXcheQaF9hVppmI=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-18494023-1619596970-8493.jpeg.jpg)
I’m not in the mood for anything sung that is too serious, earnest or old school right now (although that is bound to change) so was happy to uncover what I think is a cool offering by indie outfit Manchester Orchestra (nothing to do with Manchester other than it being the birthplace of a fair number of original music/musicians). Had been sifting through a host of otherwise unappealing new releases - so much same old same old! Incidentally there seem to be many more reissues, redo’s and unearthing of 40+ year-old releases lately. Have we run out of creative steam?? There's not a lot that hasn't been done before.
The Million Masks of God sits very easy on the ear (unlike some other masks! Lol!) – it’s good to hear something a bit different – not my usual fare and I have not listened to them before. Indie/folk/alt rock with emo leanings which is not unsurprising given that Andy Hull’s birthday is on November the 7th – slap bang in the middle of watery Scorpio. I know, I know, there can’t only be twelve types of people in the world can there??! It is interesting though, how often the characteristics match up!
The feels are certainly all there and the album is well put together – produced by said Scorp too, who is also co-president of their label, Favourite Gentleman Recordings. I think they’ve done a good job; there are layers of sound and voice, both programmed and not, some interesting timing, lots of texture, and the musicians seem competent – the lyrics are not bad at all either – huh! A bit of an R.E.M. sound now and then and I was also reminded of early Fleet Foxes – sure someone else could come up with a more current ‘sounds like’. Hull’s voice is a high tenor and he seems quite versatile. Have a feeling he’ll be around for a while. Good to know there’s still a small spark out there, glimmering faintly in the darkness!!
The full album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJED17ThojI
"Annie" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGUyEHWGHY
I’m not in the mood for anything sung that is too serious, earnest or old school right now (although that is bound to change) so was happy to uncover what I think is a cool offering by indie outfit Manchester Orchestra (nothing to do with Manchester other than it being the birthplace of a fair number of original music/musicians). Had been sifting through a host of otherwise unappealing new releases - so much same old same old! Incidentally there seem to be many more reissues, redo’s and unearthing of 40+ year-old releases lately. Have we run out of creative steam?? There's not a lot that hasn't been done before.
The Million Masks of God sits very easy on the ear (unlike some other masks! Lol!) – it’s good to hear something a bit different – not my usual fare and I have not listened to them before. Indie/folk/alt rock with emo leanings which is not unsurprising given that Andy Hull’s birthday is on November the 7th – slap bang in the middle of watery Scorpio. I know, I know, there can’t only be twelve types of people in the world can there??! It is interesting though, how often the characteristics match up!
The feels are certainly all there and the album is well put together – produced by said Scorp too, who is also co-president of their label, Favourite Gentleman Recordings. I think they’ve done a good job; there are layers of sound and voice, both programmed and not, some interesting timing, lots of texture, and the musicians seem competent – the lyrics are not bad at all either – huh! A bit of an R.E.M. sound now and then and I was also reminded of early Fleet Foxes – sure someone else could come up with a more current ‘sounds like’. Hull’s voice is a high tenor and he seems quite versatile. Have a feeling he’ll be around for a while. Good to know there’s still a small spark out there, glimmering faintly in the darkness!!
The full album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJED17ThojI
"Annie" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGUyEHWGHY
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson