Customer Reviews

Stackridge

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

 

 

Oh goody! I'm going to be reunited with my old friend Slark! (it seems I've found many a kindred spirit among these reviewers) Amazon.com, please include Slark among the audio tidbits so others will know (or remember) what we're talking about. I'm willing to bet that's the only reason many are buying this...long, long ago, in the days when FM radio was called Progressive Rock, a haunting tune called Slark was played late at night to arouse the heeby-jeebys -and enhance the acid trips- of listeners throughout the land...

I bought the album for "Slark", an old favorite of mine. The rest of the CD is an interesting mix of classical-style theme and variation writing, mixed with a Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" flavor of bouncy tunes and lyrics that kids (young and old) can enjoy. I think that it will take some time before I can really hang onto what must have been side one of the LP, but side 2 with Marzo and Slark is very entertaining.

I have a great deal of sentimental bias towards this album. It was the first LP my dad ever bought, and was so out of sync with what he and his friends listened to at the time (soul & reggae) that they dubbed it "Robin Hood music" and didn't let him play it in their presence. For as long as I can remember, I've had the darkly catchy melody to 'Slark' buried away in the back of my mind, and it's only since I got into prog rock a few years ago that I realised that's what this album is. Before that, it was just "weird".

It's not strictly prog, though. It's more like '68-'69 Beatles played by (English) country bumpkins using distinctly prog-like instruments (flutes & keyboards) to carry the lead melody lines. They are adventurous with their song structures too, switching tempo and instrumentation as songs progress. Above all, much of their music is great fun to listen to, with James Warren's twee and mystical lyrics floating harmonically over fiddle solos, stomping rhythm 'n' blues tracks and wistful proggy acoustic sections.

The production is a little uneven, but it adds character. As an album, you'd be hard pushed to find a more diverse collection of folk-prog songs (Jethro Tull included) that still seem to be strongly identifiable as Stackridge. They are basically a group of very talented, very playful and very English songwriters and multi-instrumentalists having a great time recording their debut album.

'Slark' and 'Three-Legged Table' must be identified as the highlights - both quite long, evolving pieces with several gear changes and irresistable pop hooks embedded in the folky oddness.

It won't go down in history, but I really do love it.

I have a real interest in the art/prog rock of the 1970s, which is what led me to this album, mainly upon reading a discription of the instruments the band used and because of a track that I'd heard people raving about, that being Slark. Well, I can't say I was dissapointed! As most the other reviewers have stated, this is basically a pop album with some nice classical touches here and there, but it really pulls it off well.

The album kicks off with Grande Piano, a very nice pop song in a Beatles kind of way, and continues on with the sad tale of a flightless penguin (Percy the Penguin). Both very nice little tracks. As soon as Three Legged Table began however I knew this was going to be a real nice pickup. This is a fantastic song, real mellow with some great instrumental work (it is a vocal track, however), which eventually turns in to something not unlike what you would have heard out of 10cc. The musical goodness holds up over the remaining tracks, with the brilliant Essence Of Porphyry & Slark being the other highlites (even though, as the other reviewer stated, Slark could've maybe been a little shorter).

All in all, this is a fine pop album, very accessible and yet remaining interesting. I'll definately be checking out other Stackridge albums.

Very nice progressive pop and a good find for those interested in technical musical ability along the lines of Gentle Giant. But my real comment is "What's up with he title of track 4,"Dora, the Female Explorer"? Anyone with young kids will be aware that Dora the Explorer is one of today's hottest toddler and pre-school characters on TV and in books (plus endless tie-ins). Is this album actually the genesis of that character? And if so, are the members of the band getting any royalties or recongnition for the mass-market use of their creation? If anyone knows, please comment.

The album is a artsy fartsy classical rock thing. On a whole it is a dated piece. Ah, but Slark! Slark is a must hear!

I think STACKRIDGE made only one good album and that album was
EXTRAVAGANZA. Their other albums, like this one, had brilliant
lyrics and funny and unusual song titles, but very dull, uninter-
esting music. I bought this cd because the other reviewers were
raving about the song SLARK. Tis an unusual song, that SLARK, but
I think it goes on a bit too long. I do like the opening track
GRANDE PIANO; it's a catchy, likable pop song and very BEATLE-esque, but the rest of this just doesn't grab me!