release date: 1991 (Jan.?)
format: cd (US issue - 75021 5340 2)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,54]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian / A&M Records - nationality: England, UK
Tracklist: 1. "Railwayed" (5 / 5) - 2. "Quick as Rainbows" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Hypnogogic" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "He Holds Her, He Needs Her" - 5. "Polaroids" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Gorgeous Love" - 7. "Aspray" - 8. "Drive That Fast" (5 / 5) - 9. "Within the Daze of Passion" (4,5 / 5) - 10. "Under the Sky, Inside the Sea"
2nd studio album by Kitchens of Distinction released on One Little Indian at some point in January 1991 (some sources claim a promo was released in Mar. '90, some that the first actual release took place in Jun. '90, others point to Nov./Dec. '90, though most sources file it as from 1991. It appears more certain that the US cd issue on A&M was issued in March '91). Like the debut, it's one of the absolute best releases of the year. When a band like KOD at some points betters its fantastic debut, and even in my mind also produces something that equals the best in a year, it means that it's better than most. I have rated their first two albums equally high but they're not alike. The debut album was a revelation of stylistic innovation and sheer energy. This one is the sound of a matured orchestra with a sophisticated soundscape. I love the sound of this album - it's deeper, more spacious, and the guitar work by Julian Swales is just breathtaking. Patrick Fitzgerald has a distinct melancholic way of phrasing that I think people either like or not. Needless say, I'm with the pros. "No surpiiii-iise"... ["Railwayed"] I just love the way he bends that line accompanied by Swales' gorgeous guitar. The album has no weak tracks, no fillers but several great compositions. The opening track is one of my all-time favourite KOD songs together with "Drive That Fast" (which I also own has a 12''). They're both up-tempo songs and I have played the latter a million times at maximum volume jumping around the house singing along: "Take me... - awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - there's a place on the other side of hee-ere - Take me... awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - I'll take that car and drive there faster --- I-would-never-want-to-do-that-to-you - I-would-never-want-to drive that fa-a-ast". The songs are not all up-tempo compositions like these, as one of their other great tracks on the album "Within the Daze of Passion" is a quite different composition. It's implementing progressive shoegaze and has that special trademark of theirs built on tension. The song is like a journey, or a Bolero-like dance evolving, investigating down a path into new territory and ending in a burst of (noisy) sound, like sheer bright light. The end track is the most quiet and monotone track with little focus on lyrics on account of a composition utilising horns, strings / synths and where the chorus-line is made up of a repetitious horn-section.
An all-time favourite.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
1991 Favourite releases: 1. Talk Talk Laughing Stock - 2. Van Morrison Hymns to the Silence - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Strange Free World
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
1991 Favourite releases: 1. Talk Talk Laughing Stock - 2. Van Morrison Hymns to the Silence - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Strange Free World
