The Fading Room: Memoris & Remixes
I recently read one of the most self-indulgent pieces of ‘journalism’ I have ever had the privilege to lay eyes on. Obviously, I would like to think that my own particular brand of ‘journalism’ would trump any article written by anyone else when conveying my own self importance, but this one probably did. Step forward: Martin Samuel:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article3872615.ece
Anyway, I’ve got this album, see, and it’s really good like. But, just like Martin Samuel, I have neither the creativity nor the time to write a particularly compelling piece on it. So instead, I’ve copy and pasted the views of others and then either derided them as being absolutely absurd for not mirroring my own opinion, or praised them to high heaven because they say exactly what I want to say without the boor use of grammar or atrocious beard.
Anyway, I’ll give you guys the benefit of telling you a bit about the album first.
‘The Fading Room: Memories & Remixes’ is an album built around samples taken from conversations in yesteryear and set alongside acoustic instruments and chilled electronica. It’s relaxed, beautiful and compelling to listen to. Imagine coming in from a night out and sticking this on. Wonderful.
Anyway, don’t trust my opinion, lets see what others have to say about it:
While the album does have its moments, particularly on “Everything As It Should Be” and “Sunshine Philosophy“, the ultimate failing of the recording is that the vocal interviews are often simply not interesting enough to serve as an historical document nor to inspire great music
UKMusic.com
Thanks for you input, Ukmusic.com. Whilst it is a fair criticism to say that the conversations are at times a little dull. I think it would be too easy to be drawn in by the conversations taking place. For me the attraction is the ambience created by the music behind the conversations. I doubt the conversations were ever intended to be the focal point of the album. ‘Inbetween Somewhere Beautiful’ and ‘This Is Where We Live’, in particular are wonderful examples of this.
For me this flip back in time is a musical achievement that I think is pretty magical, especially considering the understated nature of it all.
BigChill.net
Indeed, BigChill.net. Maybe we should hook up and talk about good this album is.
Good reviews should really be about the thing being reviewed and not the reviewer. Reviewers rattling on about themselves too much is a bit tedious, and lacks imagination
BigChill.net
Maybe not.
As a result, Memories From A Fading Room is a fabulously chilled album, in many ways because it's simply a presentation of the recordings, sampled in amidst the ambient orchestration, rather than a true concept work. There's no agenda trying to give any deep and significant meaning to the samples, nor to that particular period of Barrott's life or its influence on him. What comes across instead is an image of hazy dreams and partially reconstructed memories woven together with beautiful ambient harmonies.
MusicOMH.com
What this guy said.
This album grows on you like a horrendous beard that you can’t bring yourself to shave. There’s nothing horrendous about this album, though. From track one through to 11 it is stunningly beautiful and thoughtful. It takes you on a colourful journey akin to Professor Burps Bubble Works. Nothing really happens, there’s no great climax but you want to ride it over and over again. Fabulous.