NEW ALBUM: Tom Rogerson with Brian Eno - Finding Shore

[Ruby]

TOM ROGERSON WITH BRIAN ENO ~ Finding Shore



I got all happy hearing the first three tracks on this new album; Tom Rogerson’s keys are lovely and delicate, and it’s always good to listen to something outside of the ordinary, however, things became a lot less enchanting from track five onward, and there are thirteen in aaaalll. In contrast to the delicacy mentioned above, No. 6 sounds quite a lot like my cat crashing his way across the piano (which is a slightly out of tune and rather jangly upright). I think the intention was for Rogerson to recreate his three year old self having a good old thump of the notes with his fist, as some kids do (unless they are Mozart) and frankly, my cat sounds better, lol!
 
This is instrumental/experimental/ambient - Eno is responsible for ‘sounds’ and Rogerson for ‘notes’ and in all fairness, it IS improvisation, which is what Rogerson does, so I suppose it should be expected to reflect that. He's using something called a Piano Bar which is an obscure piece of Moog equipment and I think these two are speaking their own language - they literally have common ground, having both come from Suffolk (or having lived there) - the landscape of which has a lot to do with what they've done here, apparently. To my ears, although there seemed to be such potential at the beginning, it dwindled away as the album progressed - or was that my end-of-the-year attention span??!   There will likely be approval from many quarters, thanks in no small way to the Eno stamp, but on the whole, and with the exception of one or two tracks other than the first three, it’s either far too clever for me, or I haven't enough patience.
 
Nice album artwork though - very simple, very effective. The vinyl cover looks better because it doesn't have all that bumf at the side (couldn't find a pic online) - and the actual record is a pretty cornflower blue too ... 
 
The first track … 

[CRAZY-HORSE]

As always....brilliantly written Ruby, now, to read what Jerome thinks of the album.

[Ruby]

^Lol - thanks CH – a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek there, of course … and ooops - I have that track number down incorrectly, I now notice. Should be 5, not 6, the crashing cat one – it’s called “Eastern Stack”.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

oh yeh, I noticed the tongue-in-cheek...

unfortunately, I doubt i'll listen to the album because it just sounds too far out there...

come on Jerome, listen and comment...

[Jerome]

OK - will do this morning - I missed this post first time around. I was a late starter...........some mother's have them you know!

---

OK first track - love the piano bit but all that 'inky plinky plonky Daddy bought a donky' stuff at the start I can do without. Does nothing for me. Second track is much better - like the combination of synth and piano. Track 3 - Starts off really well. Movie soundtrack material. It reminds me of another piece of music from somewhere but I am too senile to remember the title. Develops nicely too. Off on a different tangent now. I like it. Not sure if I am on track 4 now - no way of telling - some interesting sounds popping out of the 'phones at present. Sounds similar to a primitive Native American kind of thing. Note to self! - really must stop drinking so much coffee in the morning. OK this must be the infamous track 5 Ruby was talking about. Sounds like a piece of machinery in a factory hammering away at whatever it does. I'm glad I don't work in that particular plant or I would be in the nuthouse after one shift. Again not sure if the next track has started or if this is just a continuation of the previous one. Some shimmering synth coming in now - around 17 minutes or so. Nice piano to go with it too. Like this part. (Add vodka to coffee). Much better now! Next part - forgotten what track number I am on. Some plodding phased synth stuff coming at me now. Plonk plonk - plonk plonk we go along. Not bad but it needs a change out direction soon otherwise I am going to get bored. Small headache developing now. Pulsing synth thing happening all over the place now. This is not good for my blood pressure - must have a joint to calm the old ticker down. The music isn't really going anywhere but I sure am. OK that part is fading away now. Quiet piano opening - nice so far - oh yes, everything is kicking in nicely now. Lovely synth effect thing going on in the background - my favourite of the album so far. Track number eleventeen I think. (around the 26 minute mark). Seems to be running out of road/ideas now. I know what - I'll add some scotch to the vodka. Screw the coffee. Some weird sounds darting in and out of the phones - Daddy and his donkey are back again. Can't tell whether the sounds are coming from the album or whether these are just the normal noises I hear in my head every day. Note to self - must lay off the morning beverages just a little bit. This can't go on. Just like the current track. Oh well that part's over - thank God. Some bell-like sound bleating in my brain now. Panadol now required to continue. Some piano and muffled vacuum cleaner sounds coming in now. Have to take a couple of uppers to keep the concentration going. I am starting to see things - wonderful things - too bad the music doesn't match the picture. Sounds like a soundtrack to a horror movie at the moment. I can't seem to focus properly at the moment - and I am not talking about the music either! I feel a bit light-headed. Oh yes, back to the music - there's something coming in that sounds like a smoke alarm now. It's getting louder and louder and louder (42 minute mark) - oh damn - the joint slipped out of my fingers and now the carpet's on fire as well. Oh well that's about as much as I can take of this - off to call the fire brigade and then I'm off to therapy. Adios.

[Music Head]

^^
WOW
I knew you had it in you
the review I mean

Wish I Was There to participate

[Jerome]

I will send you the bill from the rehab clinic MH. That way you can feel more involved in the process. Jokes aside, the album has one or two tracks I can digest but other than that it just does not work for me at all. You can't just throw paint at a wall and then call yourself an artist. You have to paint a cohesive picture or at least give me something interesting to look at. Like a centerfold for example.............

[CRAZY-HORSE]

I will send you the bill from the rehab clinic MH. That way you can feel more involved in the process. Jokes aside, the album has one or two tracks I can digest but other than that it just does not work for me at all. You can't just throw paint at a wall and then call yourself an artist. You have to paint a cohesive picture or at least give me something interesting to look at. Like a centerfold for example.............

how about this Centrefold...?   

[Ruby]

Someone needs to repackage this record – with a warning label.  
CAUTION: may lead to a tangent (or two)
Lol!!

[Jerome]

Indeed! Have to say that it just does not live up to expectation. Some nice ideas but they are too few and too far between.