soundofsounds
06-18-2005, 01:46 PM
Hotpress is Irelands lmain music publication and has an interview and review with Billy in the latest edition. Ill type the main bits of review below as its one of the best ive read.
Headline - The Goth Father
Ghostly, synthetic and smeared, possibly in charcoal eye-liner, Billy Corgans first solo record throws a bleakly affectionate glance towards the 80's and the decades parade of sombre new wave groups.
There are clanging choruses that offer dour homage to Echo and The Bunneymen, squalls of processed feedback recall the funeral studio jinks of (Joy Devision producer) Martin Hannett; Corgans vocals strain occasionally for the leaden grandiosity of a Robert Smith. Even the albums portentous title evokes a Numan-esque absurdity.
Unhappily for the ex pumpkin frontman, approximately half the new bands in Britain have, in the last year, pitched tent in the same territory.
Unlike the day-tripping nostalgists of the Bloc Party and The Departure, however, Corgan is just about old enough to remember the era first hand and TFE transmits a seductive authenticity.
Hes been here before of course; The Pumkins best album, 1998s Adore,culminated in a lush post-punk homage.
What distinguishes TFe is the narrowness of its gaze. This is not a project with over arching designs or sweeping visions. Its mission is pedantic and paricular: to approximate the rain-lashed romanticism of northern England circa 1984.
INdulgin his passion for artful miserablism, Corgan has crafted an exquisite new wave paean and, almost by happenstance, the most rewarding and exciting recording of his career. - 8/10
Sorry for any mistakes with typing.
Headline - The Goth Father
Ghostly, synthetic and smeared, possibly in charcoal eye-liner, Billy Corgans first solo record throws a bleakly affectionate glance towards the 80's and the decades parade of sombre new wave groups.
There are clanging choruses that offer dour homage to Echo and The Bunneymen, squalls of processed feedback recall the funeral studio jinks of (Joy Devision producer) Martin Hannett; Corgans vocals strain occasionally for the leaden grandiosity of a Robert Smith. Even the albums portentous title evokes a Numan-esque absurdity.
Unhappily for the ex pumpkin frontman, approximately half the new bands in Britain have, in the last year, pitched tent in the same territory.
Unlike the day-tripping nostalgists of the Bloc Party and The Departure, however, Corgan is just about old enough to remember the era first hand and TFE transmits a seductive authenticity.
Hes been here before of course; The Pumkins best album, 1998s Adore,culminated in a lush post-punk homage.
What distinguishes TFe is the narrowness of its gaze. This is not a project with over arching designs or sweeping visions. Its mission is pedantic and paricular: to approximate the rain-lashed romanticism of northern England circa 1984.
INdulgin his passion for artful miserablism, Corgan has crafted an exquisite new wave paean and, almost by happenstance, the most rewarding and exciting recording of his career. - 8/10
Sorry for any mistakes with typing.