Wigwam: Titans Wheel
EsaJii kirjoitti noin 21 vuotta sitten (5 kommenttia)
This review was written with the fans outside of Finland in mind.
Firstly, is there anyone here, who thinks that Nuclear Nightclub is one of your all time favorite albums in all of rock? If so, you must get Titans Wheel. Don't ask why, don't read the review, just get that credit card out, search for it and then come back here.
After Light Ages (out of print), many thought we would never see new material from the band, after one member moved out of Finland. I went to interview Jim in his semi-retirement here in the US. But they saw that, at least in Finland, there was a revival of interest. So here it is, the 2002 release.
Wigwam prefers to call the music they make deep pop. The fans have learned to recognize the elements of Wigwam-music ever since Nuclear Nightclub, and this album certainly fits the mold. Arrangements are worked out to fine detail, and Rekku is even reported to play sitar, giving a folky feel to some tracks. Others are what I would label 1970s top 40 type rock jams ("Drive on Driver", "Heaven In A Modern World"), standard rock tunes. With some interesting lines, and a sprinkling of Kotilainen keyboards. Slightly overdone on backing vocals at times, which led a few people to label these adult oriented rock. I only give that as warning, in case you expect a full-fledged prog album. The tunes are fine, and at least "Drive On Driver" has grown on me. There is a story buried in there.
The progressive element comes largely from Pembroke’s lyrics. In several songs there is a broad range of moods and volume, as well as different "voices" in the vocals, including a growling rage, setting it apart from disposable modern rock video trash (although that contrast within songs was also part of some 90s rock). Pembroke and Rekku work as a team, and in some songs the tune is nearly all Rekku’s, with lyrics added. If you don't like Pembroke’s style, which has not changed much since Nightclub, or his singing, now a bit on the rough side, there is not much here for you. I admit that I myself have some problem with the whole package working on some albums, such as Lucky Golden Stripes, and part of The Dark Album (Virgin compiled two LPs from tapes they had rights to, Rumours On The Rebound, a successful package).
Rekku’s guitar is up front on many songs, and Måsse and Jari do their part flawlessly. Jari, the drummer, is the youngest member (former drummer Ronnie died in 1980), and does a good job fitting in. The album is a fairly balanced group work. No new "Pigstorm" on this one, though.
Pembroke has drawn upon legends for lyrics before ("Absalom", "Talking Brought Me Here"), and this time he has created his own myths, dealing with the "Lost Lizard King". Modern conflicts have brought up the scriptures of the Middle East and their grasp on modern humans, but Pembroke’s myth, though discussing ages of man, is more related to Tolkien. The story itself is as confusing to decipher as any of his lyrics. It hasn't stopped me from listening to them with a silly grin now and then, after spotting a witty phrase never noticed before. "The Lost Lizard King" speaks of man having “come of age” but is having to “go it alone”. The Lizard King, who had ruled the world, somehow lost it. The lyric sheet implies that the Lizard kings is missing. The tune ends with “I hope you make it, This is Houston, Where are you?”
"Remains To Be Seen", "Subterranean Sunrise" (is the protagonist living in a basement apartment?) and "Bitesize" (has a wordplay on skullduggery, resulting in Doug’s scullery) are equally cryptic stories, with some memorable lines, all three among my favorites. The Doug of the latter song seems to be a strange, sinister character. "Bitesize" has a slide-guitar-like high melody played by Kotilainen on a synthesizer. For longer synthesizer solos, you will need to get Wigwam Plays Wigwam live, the previous album.
"Good Mornington Street" and "Drinks On The House" seem to be about boozing and bar hopping, among other things. "To The Other Side" is a tune I am undecided about, as I still have no clue of the story in it. Finally, "Heaven In A Modern World" summarizes some of the themes about man from "The Lost Lizard king". A few quiet tunes break the pace a bit, such as the last tune, "That’s The Way". After a minute or so of silence there is a hidden track, a studio jam bit.
The album as a whole is some of the best material from the Pembroke-Rechardt driven band, from 1975 onwards. It also sounds like they had fun doing it.
Copyright Esa Järvi 2003
Arvosana : 8
Firstly, is there anyone here, who thinks that Nuclear Nightclub is one of your all time favorite albums in all of rock? If so, you must get Titans Wheel. Don't ask why, don't read the review, just get that credit card out, search for it and then come back here.
After Light Ages (out of print), many thought we would never see new material from the band, after one member moved out of Finland. I went to interview Jim in his semi-retirement here in the US. But they saw that, at least in Finland, there was a revival of interest. So here it is, the 2002 release.
Wigwam prefers to call the music they make deep pop. The fans have learned to recognize the elements of Wigwam-music ever since Nuclear Nightclub, and this album certainly fits the mold. Arrangements are worked out to fine detail, and Rekku is even reported to play sitar, giving a folky feel to some tracks. Others are what I would label 1970s top 40 type rock jams ("Drive on Driver", "Heaven In A Modern World"), standard rock tunes. With some interesting lines, and a sprinkling of Kotilainen keyboards. Slightly overdone on backing vocals at times, which led a few people to label these adult oriented rock. I only give that as warning, in case you expect a full-fledged prog album. The tunes are fine, and at least "Drive On Driver" has grown on me. There is a story buried in there.
The progressive element comes largely from Pembroke’s lyrics. In several songs there is a broad range of moods and volume, as well as different "voices" in the vocals, including a growling rage, setting it apart from disposable modern rock video trash (although that contrast within songs was also part of some 90s rock). Pembroke and Rekku work as a team, and in some songs the tune is nearly all Rekku’s, with lyrics added. If you don't like Pembroke’s style, which has not changed much since Nightclub, or his singing, now a bit on the rough side, there is not much here for you. I admit that I myself have some problem with the whole package working on some albums, such as Lucky Golden Stripes, and part of The Dark Album (Virgin compiled two LPs from tapes they had rights to, Rumours On The Rebound, a successful package).
Rekku’s guitar is up front on many songs, and Måsse and Jari do their part flawlessly. Jari, the drummer, is the youngest member (former drummer Ronnie died in 1980), and does a good job fitting in. The album is a fairly balanced group work. No new "Pigstorm" on this one, though.
Pembroke has drawn upon legends for lyrics before ("Absalom", "Talking Brought Me Here"), and this time he has created his own myths, dealing with the "Lost Lizard King". Modern conflicts have brought up the scriptures of the Middle East and their grasp on modern humans, but Pembroke’s myth, though discussing ages of man, is more related to Tolkien. The story itself is as confusing to decipher as any of his lyrics. It hasn't stopped me from listening to them with a silly grin now and then, after spotting a witty phrase never noticed before. "The Lost Lizard King" speaks of man having “come of age” but is having to “go it alone”. The Lizard King, who had ruled the world, somehow lost it. The lyric sheet implies that the Lizard kings is missing. The tune ends with “I hope you make it, This is Houston, Where are you?”
"Remains To Be Seen", "Subterranean Sunrise" (is the protagonist living in a basement apartment?) and "Bitesize" (has a wordplay on skullduggery, resulting in Doug’s scullery) are equally cryptic stories, with some memorable lines, all three among my favorites. The Doug of the latter song seems to be a strange, sinister character. "Bitesize" has a slide-guitar-like high melody played by Kotilainen on a synthesizer. For longer synthesizer solos, you will need to get Wigwam Plays Wigwam live, the previous album.
"Good Mornington Street" and "Drinks On The House" seem to be about boozing and bar hopping, among other things. "To The Other Side" is a tune I am undecided about, as I still have no clue of the story in it. Finally, "Heaven In A Modern World" summarizes some of the themes about man from "The Lost Lizard king". A few quiet tunes break the pace a bit, such as the last tune, "That’s The Way". After a minute or so of silence there is a hidden track, a studio jam bit.
The album as a whole is some of the best material from the Pembroke-Rechardt driven band, from 1975 onwards. It also sounds like they had fun doing it.
Copyright Esa Järvi 2003
Arvosana : 8
+/- saldo : 0 | Tweet
Arvosteluissa kannattaisi mainita ainakin kerran jokaisen soittajan koko nimi. Muuten saattaa lukijalle, joka ei tunne bändiä (tai suomen kieltä/nimiä), käydä ylivoimaiseksi selvittää kuka on Jim, Rekku, Pembroke, Rechardt, Kotilainen, Måsse jne. Muuten varsin armollinen arvio ristiriitaisia tunteita herättäneestä levystä.
Arvosana : 10
Ihan mainio arvostelu vaikka levy ei minua läheskään noin paljoa ole sykähdyttänyt. Pitääppä ottaa taas kuunteluun.
Arvosana : 10
Titans Wheel oli mulle positiivinen yllätys siihen nähen millasia arvosteluja siittä etukätteen näki, ei se mikkään aa-oo-är -levy oo (no eipä kyllä mikään progelevykään). Mutta oli se silti oikeastaan myös pettymys, ei se semmonen ollut kun oisin halunnu ;) Kitinää aiheuttaa enimmäkseen tuotantopolitiikka, maanläheisempi soundi ois miellyttäny enempi. Miks kummasa Måsse ei tuottanu levyä, tekihän hän hienoa hommaa esim. Uzvan levyn tiimoilla? Pari täyteraitaa levyn puolivälisä (Win Your Love ja Drinks On The House) meinaa myös herpaannuttaa mielenkiintua, ne ois voinu ihan hyvin jättää pois, vaikka sinkkujen b-puoliksi tai jotain. Positiivinen havainto oli myös, että ei tämä semmosta mättöä oo ku oli tuo edeltävä livelevy. Jeeps, ihan kiva levy, mutta tykkäsin Light Agesista silti enempi :)
Arvosana : 7
Arvosana : 6
Ööh, olen näköjään antanut aiemmin pisteitä (5 tähteä) arvostelulle enkä levylle. Koska levy ansaitsee noin kolme tähteä niin tasotetaan tilannetta antamalla nyt kaksi pistettä.
Arvosana : 2