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Review: Solo - Before We Part
20 Nov 2008, 01:49
Solo - Before We Part
Tracklist:
1.
One Moment
2. Love Always Hope
3.Save Me
4.Who Are You
5.Haven't You Heard The News
6.Maria
7.Lost Weekend
8.Drunken Bed
9.Harmony
10.Started Out As Friends
Solo's third album, and the last one before Solo will be a solo act (again). Singer/songwriter Michiel Flamman and keyboardist/pianist Simon Gitsels have decided to go their seperate ways, but not without leaving us an endnote we will not forget.
One Moment
One Moment sounds familiar right away and the melodic, organic sound gives the song body and character as it lingers on and on like a beautiful little mountain stream.
Love Always Hope
The radio single candidate Love Always Hope is an uptempo, uplifting pop song with a real band sound, especially for Solo's standards. The almost indie pop song has some brilliant lyrics and subtly nestles itself in your head.
Save Me
Save Me is one of the highlights of this new Solo album. The intimate singer/songwriter song has a wonderful arrangement and Flamman's passionate vocals really make you listen and connect to this song. It really draws you towards the song and that's why Save Me is one of my favorites.
Who Are You
The beautifully arranged piano is played to perfection by Simon Gitsels while Michiel Flamman's sentimental vocals have a very appropriate timbre. Who Are You is an indiepop song that slightly reminds me of Death Cab For Cutie in some aspects. Strong dynamics with a focus on both the melody and the rhythm and it all seemlessy flows into the next part.
Haven't You Heard The News
The wonderfully composed Haven't You Heard The News is a small song with a very intimate singer/songwriter feel. The interaction between the piano and the vocals shows a chemistry that you rarely see (or rather hear) in today's pop music. The story told by the story is quite sentimental and Flamman perfectly finds the right tone and mood to bring those excellent lyrics to life.
Maria
Maria would be my first pick for a radio single, with its addictive piano arrangement and catchy melody. After the first time you heard it, you already can't get it out of your head. And then they build up this song very well, and the influences from earlier times (I hear some 17th century France/Italy influences) are something refreshing in today's pop music. If you can incorporate that in a modern-sounding pop song, you deserve credit for it.
Lost Weekend
Solo continues with another catchy pop song. Lost Weekend slowly builds up and the slightly moody sound works in its advantage. The vocals are golden and the strong interaction with the melodic instruments is perfectly played out.
Drunken Bed
On Drunken Bed, again, there's a piano arrangement that reminds of earlier times and it leads into an interesting moody pop song. The passionate vocals and slightly haunting melody create an atmosphere that is just right for this song. It might not be a radio song or very catchy, but it well-done musically and it speaks for the band that they pull this off flawlessly.
Harmony
Harmony is a very appropriate title for this song, as it is in perfect harmony. I can't say it's the song on this album that appeals to me most, but I really like it. It's well-written and performed with utmost care and sentiment. The timing is spot on all through the song, and the chorus is quite catchy. I would really love to hear this live to see how it would connect with an audience, because the buid-up of the song allows it to become a great live track.
Started Out As Friends
The wonderful piano ballad Started Out As Friends ends this album. It's the perfect ending to this strong album. Solo proves to be one of the best pop bands in the Netherlands and probably far over the border. Started Out As Friends's compassionate vocals and strong musical arrangement leave a mark on the listener and he or she will come back to it countless times, again and again, as it's a song that is impressive and speaks with pure honesty.
After "Songs 'N Sounds" & "Solopeople", Solo now returns with their most organic album and with pure and well-arranged pop songs this is an album for the ages. Timeless songs and wonderful lyrics go hand in hand with lush and beautiful melodies that are brought to live by these excellent musicians. "Before We Part" is the latest masterpiece in the Solo collection.
Tracklist:
1.
One Moment2. Love Always Hope
3.
Save Me4.
Who Are You5.
Haven't You Heard The News6.
Maria7.
Lost Weekend8.
Drunken Bed9.
Harmony10.
Started Out As FriendsSolo's third album, and the last one before Solo will be a solo act (again). Singer/songwriter Michiel Flamman and keyboardist/pianist Simon Gitsels have decided to go their seperate ways, but not without leaving us an endnote we will not forget.
One Moment
One Moment sounds familiar right away and the melodic, organic sound gives the song body and character as it lingers on and on like a beautiful little mountain stream.
Love Always Hope
The radio single candidate Love Always Hope is an uptempo, uplifting pop song with a real band sound, especially for Solo's standards. The almost indie pop song has some brilliant lyrics and subtly nestles itself in your head.
Save Me
Save Me is one of the highlights of this new Solo album. The intimate singer/songwriter song has a wonderful arrangement and Flamman's passionate vocals really make you listen and connect to this song. It really draws you towards the song and that's why Save Me is one of my favorites.
Who Are You
The beautifully arranged piano is played to perfection by Simon Gitsels while Michiel Flamman's sentimental vocals have a very appropriate timbre. Who Are You is an indiepop song that slightly reminds me of Death Cab For Cutie in some aspects. Strong dynamics with a focus on both the melody and the rhythm and it all seemlessy flows into the next part.
Haven't You Heard The News
The wonderfully composed Haven't You Heard The News is a small song with a very intimate singer/songwriter feel. The interaction between the piano and the vocals shows a chemistry that you rarely see (or rather hear) in today's pop music. The story told by the story is quite sentimental and Flamman perfectly finds the right tone and mood to bring those excellent lyrics to life.
Maria
Maria would be my first pick for a radio single, with its addictive piano arrangement and catchy melody. After the first time you heard it, you already can't get it out of your head. And then they build up this song very well, and the influences from earlier times (I hear some 17th century France/Italy influences) are something refreshing in today's pop music. If you can incorporate that in a modern-sounding pop song, you deserve credit for it.
Lost Weekend
Solo continues with another catchy pop song. Lost Weekend slowly builds up and the slightly moody sound works in its advantage. The vocals are golden and the strong interaction with the melodic instruments is perfectly played out.
Drunken Bed
On Drunken Bed, again, there's a piano arrangement that reminds of earlier times and it leads into an interesting moody pop song. The passionate vocals and slightly haunting melody create an atmosphere that is just right for this song. It might not be a radio song or very catchy, but it well-done musically and it speaks for the band that they pull this off flawlessly.
Harmony
Harmony is a very appropriate title for this song, as it is in perfect harmony. I can't say it's the song on this album that appeals to me most, but I really like it. It's well-written and performed with utmost care and sentiment. The timing is spot on all through the song, and the chorus is quite catchy. I would really love to hear this live to see how it would connect with an audience, because the buid-up of the song allows it to become a great live track.
Started Out As Friends
The wonderful piano ballad Started Out As Friends ends this album. It's the perfect ending to this strong album. Solo proves to be one of the best pop bands in the Netherlands and probably far over the border. Started Out As Friends's compassionate vocals and strong musical arrangement leave a mark on the listener and he or she will come back to it countless times, again and again, as it's a song that is impressive and speaks with pure honesty.
After "Songs 'N Sounds" & "Solopeople", Solo now returns with their most organic album and with pure and well-arranged pop songs this is an album for the ages. Timeless songs and wonderful lyrics go hand in hand with lush and beautiful melodies that are brought to live by these excellent musicians. "Before We Part" is the latest masterpiece in the Solo collection.
