Erstwhile Ten guitarist, Chris Francis, proves himself here to be an outstandingly good songwriter, arranger and producer as well as an axeman of some repute.
What he isn't good at is mixing.
So often, when this music should be great, it's an unholy mess, thanks to a diabolically bad mix. One that frequently drowns out the vocals in a bedlam of axework.
'Notes From The Incurable' is a rock opera of sorts. A themed series of tracks tackling subjects such as psychosis, warfare, murder, depression and triumph.
The music is often well orchestrated, exciting and visceral, imaginatively arranged, vigorously delivered but never slips the chains of a bad mix.
Islands of relative calm in an ocean of cacophony are: 'Those Lost Winter Evenings', where the vocals just about break surface long enough to do a quality song justice; 'Mr.Spencer' too benefits from us being able to Phil Philsworth's voice - melancholic pop in the vein of Ezuff Znuff, Queen and The Fab Four.
Somewhere in 'Notes.' there is a great album, desperate to be freed from the grasp of a messy mix.
One day . . .
Style: rock opera
Rating: 6/10Posted by
Brian - Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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