Customer Reviews

A Walk Across the Rooftops

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Still my favorite of Blue Nile's three albums, "Walk Across the Rooftops" is a gorgeous debut that nicely bridges acoustic instruments with synthetic instruments -- like the ubiquitous Linn drums -- in an era when synthpop was everywhere. (The album was originally released on Linn Records, by the way.) Paul Buchanan's voice is introspective, aching and sincere, though it may sound a bit peculiar to those unaccustomed to it. "Stay" was the prominent (and excellent) single from the album, but "Tinseltown in the Rain" is by far the stunner on the album -- magnificent despite its unusual blend of sounds with its lush string arrangements, crunchy bass, percussive guitar and Linn drum claps ... absolutely one of my all-time favorite songs from the 80's. This song alone is worth the price of the album (too bad it's out of print in the States). "Heatwave" and "Walk Across the Rooftops" are other standouts. The other, softer tracks are minimalist yet paint vivid, impressionistic scenes. The Blue Nile succeed on this album in truly creating a form of aural poetry, that they were also able to duplicate on subsequent albums, but don't miss this one!

Many years ago I received through the mail a Folk Music catalog featuring an interview with Rickie Lee Jones during her "Pop Pop" period. In the article she discussed her influences naming a lot of folk artists including "The Blue Nile". I never heard of the group, but I always respected Rickie Lee Jones creativity, therefore I bought the CD "Walk Across the Rooftops". When I first dropped it into the CD player I heard a strange rock beat with a conning male singer bouncing from one vocal range to another. It was not a trained voice, but very rough around the edges, yet emotional & very human. The next song "Tinseltown in the Rain" was very `POP', danceable with a straighter beat than the pervious song. "This is Folk? What was Rickie Lee Jones talking about?"

After the initial shock & a few more listens, I extremely fell in love with this CD. This is one of those CD's that grows on you with each listen. The inner notes did not have the words of the songs, which maybe a good thing because it forces you to pay attention. The later songs `Seem' to question God: "From Rags to Riches" & "Easter Parade" & mere existence: "Stay" & "Heatwave".

"From Rags to Riches" maybe about the Jewish exodus from Egypt to the promised land with references to `Joseph's colored coat' yet at the same time about modern life with its struggles of poverty & promises of riches. In some ways it's a prayer to God about what seems to be his broken promises yet seeing the glory or hope at the end of the journey.

"Stay" could be the typical song about a person losing a relationship, yet it works at a deeper level, maybe because of the emotional skill of the main singer Paul Buchnan.

"Easter Parade" is about a man who gets trapped on a street due to an Easter parade passing by. As the joy of the crowd plays on, he remembers his childhood going to church & reflecting the death of Christ. One of the most moving songs on the CD when he cries, "I know you..."

"Heatwave" returns to the `POP' mainstream beat & style, but the words about the hardships of humanity keep the song above the normal top 40 mayhem.

"Automobile Noise" is more of an experiment with sound effects within a rock beat creating a great ending song.

There are hints of Thomas Dolby or maybe Pink Floyd through out this fantastic CD, yet holding on to their originality. Give it a spin...

The Blue Nile - mysterious name for a band from Scotland, but don't let that throw you off the scent. This album is a masterpiece of subtlety, minimalism, and form. Sure, it takes time to appreciate. Sure, some of the sounds are a bit rough and ragged. But this is pure, unadulterated experimentation at its greatest and heartbreakingly melodic in places, angular and sharp in others. One of the greatest albums of the 1980s, and possibly modern times. *****5 STARS.

No 'Blue Nile' disc has exactly 'burst' upon the scene. 'A Walk Across The Rooftops' simply descended in 1983, tantalisingly & dreamily evoking a young man's urban vision, even his rite of passage. The lyrics have that envious quality of being at once both generalised enough for our empathy and intimating the detail of a particular place. Some call this 'the real'. 'Astral Weeks' has it. Richard Buckner's,'The Hill' has it. Of course it's not the measure of all pop music, nor should it be. But it can make for enduring pleasure. Pound for pound this, by quite some way, is the better of the 3 discs I've heard. Buchanan's joy de vive is more evident for one thing. There's a playfulness in the scoring that feels a tad more predictable in the succeeding discs. There's the title tune,'Rags To Riches', 'Stay', and 'Automobile'; it's quite a musical panorama with The Blue Nile's signature string orchestra lightly woven throughout. When ready to spin this type of music in the 80s I'd debate over this or David Sylvan's 'Brilliant Trees'. I harbour affection for 'Trees' but it hasn't continued to warm me like The Nile.

The Blue Nile got their break when an Edinburgh hi-fi company, Linn Products accidentally heard a demo of Tinseltown in the Rain (which is on this album), and was so impressed it gave the band money to record an album. Everyone who was fortunate enough to hear this debut album, Walk Across the Rooftops, in 1983 became fans for life. Alhough Stay was a minor hit, the Blue Nile were never really a singles band and their fanbase remained small but devoted. The Blue Nile are particualrly good at slow ballads. The rhythm section is just a steady pitter-patter of drum machines, on top of which beautifully orchestrated horns, strings and synths spiral upwards, lifting the listener to new heights of musical wonder (yes it’s that good). This is not rock: think Sim ple Minds circa New Gold Dream or even Frank Sinatra (with Nelson Riddle) or the soundtrack to a really classy 40s movie - lots of strings, low-key ambience and the jewel in the crown, Paul Buchanan’s achingly beautiful vocals. I predict Blue Nile will u ndergo a revival - Walk Across the Rooftops and the follow-up, Hats are just the kind of thing people today would think was great â€~trip-hop’ or chill-out music.
Some of the tracks are more ambient pieces than songs (Automobile Noise), but for my money Stay, Heatwave, Walk Across the Rooftops and the astounding Tinseltown in the Rain are four defining musical moments of the 80s.

First time I heard The Blue Nile was "A Walk Across the Rooftops" on the radio back in 83. It was a moody texured sound that fit my teenage angst at the time. This was one of my mellow, moody chill out albums along with Starfish by the Church.

Fast forward to 2005.

Wow.

As soon as I put this disc in... All the memories I have tied to this CD. It's back like an old friend after a long absence.

Every song on this album is rich in mood and moment, capturing the angst of modern life, work, romance, solitude, and longing in smokey vocals and layered melodies of a quality approached only perhaps by the dreamy sounds of Roxy Music's Avalon.

A must for every music lover who appreciates the evocations of the heart.

I am not going to go on too much at length about The Blue Nile and A Walk Across the Rooftops other than to say I first heard it in 1984 and to this day I still consider it one of the most brilliant albums I have ever heard. If you have any musical intelligence, you will recognize it immediately.

In 1989, whilst attending university in Glasgow, it was impossible to escape 'Tinseltown in the Rain' in student bars and clubs. A paradoxically upbeat but also melancholy song it hinted at a complexity which invited me to further investigate the Blue Nile's music.

I accepted this invitation and found 'A Walk Across the Rooftops', 'Heatwave' and 'Automobile Noise' all wonderfully sensitive, evocative and introspective songs. However, it is the 'Easter Parade' which still delivers an emotional punch like no other song I have ever heard before or since.

As an 18 year old I listened to this song and recognised the twilight sound of The Blue Nile's home city. The electronic "whoosh" on the chorus evokes the sound of distant traffic on the motorway as heard from the city's center. It suggests that, even in the midst of solitude in its lonely heart, life goes on elsewhere.

14 years later, on the evening of the day when my daughter was born, I listened to same song and found the feeling of time and space which it creates as strong as when I first heard it in my teens.

A beautiful album and the most beautiful song.

Supremely original and uncategorizable pop music from this artistic Glasgow, Scotland trio. At first impression this beautifully produced 20-year-old but ageless debut's sound is more ambient, atmospheric, textured and stark than their excellent followup "Hats." Repeated listenings brings to the fore the passion of Paul Buchanan's soulful and unforgettable singing and the tactile,poetic, consistently moving and urban-detailed lyrics. (Glasgow, its buildings, streets and people, seems to be an almost spiritual influence.) A residing sense of authenticity and yearning and loneliness throughout the record and on songs like "Easter Parade," "Tinstletown in the Rain," "Stay" are unforgettable. Wonderful, timeless music.