Customer Reviews

Masque

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

 

 

While it seemed to get slammed by critics and some fans, this album remains my favorite of The Mission's catalog...actually one of my favorite albums overall. Following the dance-rock trend that seemed to sweep the early 90s, the band began experimenting with electronics and dance rhythms, resulting in an epic album that is actually quite comparable (in both sound and quality) to U2's classic Achtung Baby.. Why this album faded into obscurity rather than becoming another classic is beyond me.

The first two tracks are an immediate introduction to the band's dance-rock style, with driving bass, danceable rhythms, dance-oriented electronics, and 90s U2-esque searing guitars.. These are followed by the psychedelic rocker "Even You May Shine" and the slower, epic "Spider and the Fly".. "She Conjures Me Wings", a whimsical upbeat rock number that almost brings The Beatles to mind, seems a bit out of the place, but is a nice diversion and was also the perfect end track for side one of the cassette version.

While the second half of the album is a bit more diverse, "Sticks and Stones" brings the album back around to it's more dance-oriented side, this time combined with a very well produced and nicely layered eastern sound (complete with strings and sitar) that makes for a beautiful and interesting dance track.. "Like A Child Again", the album's hit single, is an upbeat, straightforward pop-rock love song that recalls some of The Cure's more upbeat work.. "Who Will Love Me Tomorrow" is another upbeat, although slightly more mellow, rock track.. "You Make Me Breathe" is the best sappy-yet-endearing prom slow-dance song you've never heard. "From One Jesus To Another" counters the upbeat tracks that proceed it as an excellent brooding, slow-paced, track with something of a plodding war-drum rhythm... "Until There's Another Sunrise" ends the album with a nice slow rock track that wouldn't necessarily be out of place on U2's War or The Unforgettable Fire.

If this album has any fault, it would be its abundance of sonic diversity that maybe takes away some of the album's cohesion and flow. However, the fact that the album's material is consistently outstanding more than makes up for that. In all, this is a beautifully written, performed, and produced album that is definitely worth buying.

I can't believe that I'm the first person to review this album! Where to start with this?......Well, I first heard the album when it was released in 1992, the same year that I had graduated from high school. Already being a huge Mission fan, I fell in love with it immediately. Even though it's a big departure from their previous albums (God's Own Medicine, The First Chapter, Children, Carved In Sand, & Grains of Sand), I thought it was very appropriate for the times, since many of their contemporaries at the time were jumping on the techno bandwagon also.
From the opening train chugging by on "Never Again" to the blissful ending of "Until There's Another Sunrise", this album is amazing! The first four songs have such a good beat to them they could easily be club tracks. After that they really move off in different directions, "Spider and the Fly" has an interesting sound that's hard to describe; "She Conjures Me Wings" is reminiscent of "Mr. Pleasant" from the album Grains of Sand; "Sticks and Stones" makes good use of the violin, giving it a middle-eastern feel; "Like A Child Again" is such a pop song, very original though. Overall, this album rocks, and I've shared it with many people that I know. If you like The Mission and have not heard this album you may want to give it a try, besides you never know if you'll like it unless you hear it!

Great Album ! great music and lyrics but not for a band like the mission! Hussey made three great masterpieces " God's own medicine" " Children " and Carved in Sand" they sang classics songs as wasteland , Tower of strength and butterflies on a wheel i strongly agree that fans will be surprised when they will hear Hussey singing " like a child again and stick and stones" frankly i enjoyed it but not as their previous classic albums.
too bad that the mission split up but i urge hussey to come back with a new mission and only one new member which is Julian regan from All about eve and to do together a new alternative rock album.