Customer Reviews

Long Ago and Far Away

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The diversity of the songs on this album is truly incredible. Each one stands out from the others with its own unique sound, evoking a myriad of emotions ranging from joy to melancholy. "Tonight," an intense yet simple love song, is rife with a dark, heady euphoria, expressed in such lyrics as "no regrets, no turing back, oh throw all caution to the wind". The same intensity is transformed into disappointment in the sorrowful "Shadow," a portrait of unrequited love. "And the rain beats on the window pane, counting the years passing. You never came." The collection has its share of quiet, introspective songs, including a haunting cover of "Alice" and the deliciously morbid "Ashes in the Wind." (I can't begin to describe how much I love this song, with its eerie vocals and surreal imagery. "Gathered on stony steps, we breathe our last whispers of the end." It's one of the Shroud's most melodic songs, and perhaps also the "gothiest".) But there are also more energetic pieces, such as "Caged Bird" and "Sulfur, Salt and Mercury," which seem almost to scintillate with a dark energy. The different styles are well balanced, though. There's a whimsical, almost ethereal quality to all the songs, and the entire album has a vaguely pagan overtone. One can hear many elements of the style later developed in A Dark Moon Night, though there's also a raw quality here which reminds me a little of Switchblade Symphony's Serpentine Gallery.

This album continues to hold my interest although I've played it countless times. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics at times inspirational. This is a band which deserves a lot more attention, and an album that I highly recommend.

This is a beautiful album, melodic but fresh. Too many goth bands either go for a pounding, dark rock sound, or go totally ethereal. Either extreme gets boring after a while. This band does a little of both, throws in a female lead who sounds properly goth without pretending to be a fallen angel or a vampire queen, and makes the whole thing sound great. 'Falling Dream' is a spacy kind of fantasy in a fairy tale style. 'Alice' is a brilliant rocker with a fresh delivery - sometimes I actually prefer it to the original (if you didn't know, it's an ancient Sisters of Mercy song). A great bunch of songs for those who wish goth music hadn't gotten so vapidly pretentious in the Nineties.

Amongst the thousands of Pearl Jam imitators, wanna-be rap stars, typical 'watered-down' sound of top 40, and adult contemporary, is a underground scene, which is unknown to the majority of the masses. within this underground scene there are many scenes, and in the darkest Shadows of the underground sits a "Gothic" scene. Hidden in the Esoteric underground is a band comprised of five very talented people, and those people are in a band, and that band is called THE SHROUD. Led by the beautiful Lydia Fortner, who writes all the lyrics and sings them with a passion that has been missing in rock music for many years, The Shroud, who hail from Fresno, Cal. are the first band in the Gothic community who have managed to meld classic rock instrumentation, classical music, Dream Pop, and Gothic Rock into a sound that is very unique. Upon listening to this Cd the very first time it was like undergoing some sort of spiritual awakening. One feels like they are entering a trance for the first time, and thrown into a mystical world that falls somewhere between "Alice in Wonderland and Braum Stokers Dracula". For example Lydia manages to weave a spell over the listener with her beautiful voice in the song "CAGED BIRD", where she sings "Jade and Silver overhead Orchids crushed upon your bed Your thoughts may wander freely And the caged bird sings so sweetly..", which intices the listener to listen more and more and even more. In the song "Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury", which is an Alchemical formula, but utilized as a message from Lydia, that people should open themselves to the world of the dark as evident when she sings "Open your heart and see the night and you'll be blinded by your newfound sight." followed by a fact known to all practitioners of the Occult "Without the sun shining deadly bright all things take on their own true light." In the Waltz "She", a song about childhood memories, Lydia sings: "She sees creatures behind the glass crying with a voice she heard once in a childhood dream falling through a window she once shattered...", making one to reflect upon their own childhood. Being a "Goth" in 1990's America is the equivalent of being a witch in 1690's America, as evident in "Wednesday's Child", where Lydia sings "Awail the day the net will be drawn to let you out. Turning away cover your pain never expect them to see", but Lydia also offers hope where she sings "Wander in the old places. Distant memory of how the future will be", indicating that the "Gothic Community" will eventually become accepted into mainstream society.

I percieve this band, and others of their caliber to have a strong impact on the music industry. Not just in the way music is performed, but how Unique Artists, like themselves market their own material, bypassing the traditional 'corporate' machine by submitting what are known as MP3 files, which allow listeners to download performers material onto their harddrive for a listen, which will effect the sales of artists who are, and have been shutout by the music industry. Band like THE SHROUD will help change the way in how music is sold and listened to, proving that "Gothic Rock music" is as viable as any other form of pop music. I think THE SHROUD will be around for a long time, for they have many great tunes and innovative approaches to popular music in general.

The diversity of the songs on this album is truly incredible. Each one stands out from the others with its own unique sound, evoking a myriad of emotions ranging from joy to melancholy. "Tonight," an intense yet simple love song, is rife with a dark, heady euphoria, expressed in such lyrics as "no regrets, no turing back, oh throw all caution to the wind". The same intensity is transformed into disappointment in the sorrowful "Shadow," a portrait of unrequited love. "And the rain beats on the window pane, counting the years passing. You never came." The collection has its share of quiet, introspective songs, including a haunting cover of "Alice" and the deliciously morbid "Ashes in the Wind." (I can't begin to describe how much I love this song, with its eerie vocals and surreal imagery. "Gathered on stony steps, we breathe our last whispers of the end." It's one of the Shroud's most melodic songs, and perhaps also the "gothiest".) But there are also more energetic pieces, such as "Caged Bird" and "Sulfur, Salt and Mercury," which seem almost to scintillate with a dark energy. The different styles are well balanced, though. There's a whimsical, almost ethereal quality to all the songs, and the entire album has a vaguely pagan overtone. One can hear many elements of the style later developed in A Dark Moon Night, though there's also a raw quality here which reminds me a little of Switchblade Symphony's Serpentine Gallery.

This album continues to hold my interest although I've played it countless times. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics at times inspirational. This is a band which deserves a lot more attention, and an album that I highly recommend.

I'll be frank with everybody here. I've owned this album forwhat seems like forever and I still enjoy it immensely! I would haveto say that this is a very experimental album for them because it is rather raw. A listener can hear a multitude of band dynamics along with musical dynamics going on. Each song takes a different direction. I can see where the seeds were sown for "A Dark Moon Night" when I listen to this record. I simply adore Lydia Fortner's vocals and words. The music is good too. :) This band continually surprises me with the diversity and depth of their material. One might think this album has multiple personalities and that is because it does. This band is one that is filled with dynamic, creative, and assertive individuals who seem to just push and pull themselves to stellar, creative heights! Listen for yourself! "Drowning Dream" (their first EP) is really cool. "Death's too Late" alone makes this EP worth it. I've become a pretty big fan of theirs and I started with this album. So, I definitely believe it's worth your while. I hope this was helpful. Happy listening! END

The diversity of the songs on this album is truly incredible. Each one stands out from the others with its own unique sound, evoking a myriad of emotions ranging from joy to melancholy. "Tonight," an intense yet simple love song, is rife with a dark, heady euphoria, expressed in such lyrics as "no regrets, no turing back, oh throw all caution to the wind". The same intensity is transformed into disappointment in the sorrowful "Shadow," a portrait of unrequited love. "And the rain beats on the window pane, counting the years passing. You never came." The collection has its share of quiet, introspective songs, including a haunting cover of "Alice" and the deliciously morbid "Ashes in the Wind." (I can't begin to describe how much I love this song, with its eerie vocals and surreal imagery. "Gathered on stony steps, we breathe our last whispers of the end." It's one of the Shroud's most melodic songs, and perhaps also the "gothiest".) But there are also more energetic pieces, such as "Caged Bird" and "Sulfur, Salt and Mercury," which seem almost to scintillate with a dark energy. The different styles are well balanced, though. There's a whimsical, almost ethereal quality to all the songs, and the entire album has a vaguely pagan overtone. One can hear many elements of the style later developed in A Dark Moon Night, though there's also a raw quality here which reminds me a little of Switchblade Symphony's Serpentine Gallery.

This album continues to hold my interest although I've played it countless times. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics at times inspirational. This is a band which deserves a lot more attention, and an album that I highly recommend.

With the internet becoming more accessible for more and more bands every day, there is no doubt that some kind of new music explosion is highly probable. Many independent bands no longer have to rely on big major label support, and mass media acceptance. Many bands are claiming thousands of new fans in droves every day, due to cheap access and affordable marketing by way of the internet. The Shroud are a band who have been aware of the importance of the internet for self marketing for some time now. People from all over the world now have the chance to find out about unique bands such as the Shroud once they log on. The Shroud, a Fresno quintet are part of the "Gothic" subculture in California led by the beautiful Lydia Fortner, who writes and sings for the Shroud. When I first bought this cd I was filled with such joy that I had to tell everyone I talked to about this band. The bands arrangements are well constructed and professional. Lydia has the most beautiful voice i've ever heard. The guitarist, Rodney Walker knows how to weave guitar lines, and arpeggios around Lydias voice, and knows to pick the appropriate time to "Rock" out, rather than playing dissonance like many bands do today. the band's compositions range from Waltzes to ethereal to uptempo Rockers. I just wish the music industry would wake up and give a band like The Shroud a listen, for they are one of the best bands i've heard in over a decade. With "Gothic" oriented films and tv shows, you'd think they would jump at the chance to sign every Gothic band in site. When the day comes (which is inevitable)when bands like The Shroud finally gain mass recognition, I'll be telling everyone "I told you they would make the big time".

For any of you who enjoy Fading Colors, Switchblade Symphony, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, or any other "goff"/experimetal bands" this cd is a must have. If you have the Black Bible and or want it...The Shroud is the next best thing.

The Shrouds first disc just left me kind of wondering. Their follow up was superb but this album had many a hole. Caged Bird is excellent though and well worth the price of the disc, imo. But the rest of the album kind of lacked. I wish I could say something positive about this album besides the fact that Caged Bird is good. But I can't. Total honest truth, start with their follow up then come back and get this one. Her vocals got stronger and the follow up was really sonic and had some great melody. It's not a horrible album, don't get me wrong. But they got much better and I think the consumer should opt for the secodn then the first ;).

If you are looking for "Sisters of Mercy" or "BauHaus"- forget it! If you're into Concrete Blond, you shouldn't be disapointed. It may grow on me, but NOT what I expected.