his album picks up from where the first album by Stiltskin called the Mind’s Eye left off, this album is written and performed by a more mature band who still sounds as fresh as they did when they first emerged.
The artwork is a little mystifying with an almost Industrious-Autumnal theme, the album has the drummer NIR Z from the 1997-1998 Genesis line up and CUT respectively who is allowed a free reign here and it shows very positively.
Tracklist
- FLY HIGH,
- TAKING TIME,
- SHE,
- LEMON YELLOW SUN,
- WAKE UP YOUR MIND,
- SICK AND TIRED,
- CONSTANTLY REMINDED,
- SHOW ME THE WAY,
- FAME,
- SOME OF ALL MY FEARS,
- SUMMER DAYS,
- BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
Album Highlights
TAKING TIME
It is very clever in the way in which its builds from a guitar riff to a full blown rock song, although the story does not sound like a happy one (possibly about depression maybe even someone considering suicide), it is very observational and moving. Towards the end, Ray’s narratation is fantastic with Ray having a rather deep voice and suggesting that the devil has a human number Six hundred and Sixty Six.
SHE
I am of the impression that this about someone who is obsessed and past the verge of stalking. It is even more scarier than ‘Taking Time’, with a haunting start of a Mellotron string type sound. Although, Ray’s vocals are quite easy to follow in this song it’s still quite chilling and unnerving.
CONSTANTLY REMINDED,
This starts out with a piano introduction which is then replaced by an acoustic guitar. Ray sings about a break down and pain of a relationship. Ray sings about how the character learned from the mistakes. The chorus comes about with the words “Constantly reminded about you, everywhere I look I see your face it’s painted on my mind” this something we have all felt when relationships have ended. It’s not a happy song, but Ray tells the story very well and in the end you feel for character.
FAME
This is an excellent protest song to all the talent shows that ruin peoples lives and water down the fact that music is an art form. The story is of a fictional winner of a “talent” show called Maria. Ray does not hold back here Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh watch out!
I really enjoy this album the rest of it is growing on me. The album has a modern feel to it which may or may not date the album in years to come, Ray has shown he can still Rock or Grunge it up with his contemporaries.
For more information on Ray Wilson check out www.raywilson.co.uk