Having

Trespassers William | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B000E3LHSC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,227 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of the more promising "newgazer" indie rock acts have made a stellar, flotational album of dreamy, vaguely emo rock. Call it slow-emo? Slo-mo? On second thought, don't. The four-piece hit upon a spot of luck when two of their tunes landed on The OC. But don't hold it against them–those are really good, fuzzy, feel-good tunes. You see, where, say, Kinski puts their faith in volume and proggy changes, Trespassers spends more time working on folk-oriented songcraft. And since songs are the one thing missing from most shoegazers' kit bags, they're definitely a different breed (albeit one with strong echoes of Low, Windy & Carl and Galaxie 500). Aligning themselves with Dave Fridmann, the genius producer who helped Mercury Rev make their one great album, means even more emphasis on the songs themselves, with cool accents like distorted drums and what sounds like shimmering strings on "Ledge." Anna-Lynne Williams has a tremendous voice. Having is perfect rainy day stuff: narcoleptic, lush and blissed-out. –Mike McGonigal

Product Description

SONGS: Safe, Sound; What of Me; Weakening; Eyes Like Bottles; I Don't Mind; Ledge; And We Lean In; My Hands Up; Low Point; No One; and, Matching Weight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning!, March 4, 2006

By 

M. Ward (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Having (Audio CD)

I was prepared for disapointment having had so much enjoyment from Trespassers William's first two CDs. But as with the other two, the first track ("Safe, Sound" in this case) just pulls you in and then blows you away. They know how to open an album, and how to open your mind to the rest of the songs. This is a little trippier than the others, especially when they crank up the distortion. Comparisons? Mazzy Star, I suppose; Sigur Ros, in places; early Everything But The Girl - a bit. Some of the guitar work and the sound in general is reminiscent of Coldplay when they were listenable, before they sold out. The band work together really well, complimenting each other perfectly. This is very laid back music and the bass and drumming has to work - you're going to notice it. The keyboards are perfect - ambient and unintrusive. And then there's that voice...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Having a Love Affair, March 18, 2006

By 

moonbeat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Having (Audio CD)

If you are like me, then you know that listening to a Trespassers William album is no casual experience: it is like falling in love for the first time; it changes you profoundly and fills your life with the passion and ecstacy that new lovers feel. I must admit that my love affair with "Different Stars" is so complete and all-consuming that, at first listening, I was resistent to the delights of an unfamiliar new album--despite my having looked forward to its release for so long. I didn't expect to fall in love with the same level of intensity this time around (but I hoped), and I had to live with "Having" for about a month before I was ready to assess and verbalize my response to it. It took a few listenings to discover the joys and appreciate the fine craftsmanship of "Having", and a few more listenings to fall in love all over again.
The polished production wizardry of "Having" kept me at a distance for some time, like a gauzy veil concealing a lover's face. (I certainly didn't think that T.W. needed such a sophisticated, if sometimes heavy-handed and conspicuous, production to deliver its magical brew of well-crafted, superbly-written soulful songs--and I still don't think so!) Nonetheless, with repeated listenings, I learned to embrace, appreciate, and, for the most part, love the atmospheric production accents--I now understand that this unique, textured production is an integral part of the music, not merely a decorative treatment (the ambient instrumental passage closing the album is as riveting and potent as the band's best songs). Still, the least favorable thing I can say about "Having" is that a few of the songs on it are somewhat crippled rather than enhanced by the sometimes self-conscious production techniques, which serve to bury or obscure otherwise powerful songs (compare "Weakening" and "Ledge" here with the superior live session versions the band recorded exclusively for iTunes). Sure, the clarity, simplicity, and melodic power that made "Different Stars" such a compeling and seductive work is sacrificed here--but mostly to achieve a different and ultimately alluring effect. Although I much prefer "Stars" to "Having," I admire T.W.'s willingness and courage to experiment and evolve (even if now they sound a little less like themselves and a little more like other bands who fall in the same genre).
Other than this minor criticism, I consider "Having" as a masterpiece of deep, sumptuous textures and exquisite, simple melodies that enfold the listener in a womb-like environment, eliciting--with the ebb and flow of its sound--delerium, heartache, wonder, and amazement. Shimmering guitars--crisp, colorful, and breathtaking--chime dizzyingly around Anna-Lynne Williams' understated, haunting voice, which imbues each note with an aching, lovelorn quality that is as absolutely convincing as it is astonishing. She deliberately holds back here (a definite contrast to the gorgeous, spine-chilling wailing vocals found on "Anchor," T.W.'s first release) favoring whispered phrasings and breathy yet clear inflections over a more demonstrative, sober delivery. The effect is at once intoxicating and heart-wrenching. Her voice is a wonder to behold, and without it, this music would be simply pretty or perhaps precious. Her voice leaves you wanting more (that's a good thing) as it resonates in your psyche, making the cold hard realities of life seem warmer, softer, dreamier--like an elixir for living. Few vocalists can claim such a gift, and we are privileged to have it. With this music and this voice around, life has become richer and more beautiful. And so my love affair continues....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DARK, EPIC AND MIND-BLOWING, March 28, 2006

By 

otto "yeah... sure" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Having (Audio CD)

This for me the best album of Trespassers William.
Certainly less accessible than "Different Stars", "Having" is yet full of wonderful melodies, beautiful guitar and drum effects and imbued with sadness, darkness and sometimes hope.
The voice and words of Anne-Lynne are moving and no-one can resist this particular indolent way of singing.
Listen to "My hands up", "Safe, Sound" or "Ledge" and you will be conquered.