Twelve Thousand Days – The Boatman On The Downs (Album – FinalMuzik)
Genre/Influences: Ethereal, Experimental, Neo-Classic, Chanson, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: This is the seventh full length album by the duo Martyn Bates – Alan Trench under the Twelve Thousand Days moniker. Their collaboration started in 2000 but they have been mainly active releasing new stuff since 2018.
Content: The new songs sound in the vein of previous releases although it even became more diversified than ever before. Every single song sounds as a new journey driven by another influence but in the end there’s a true cohesion. From Ballad to Experimental to an important Cinematic part to Chanson and even a rather Ethereal debut cut the album covers it all. The work has been composed with different real, acoustic, instruments and electronics.
+ + + : This project appeals for an imaginary travel throughout very diversified landscapes. I like the darker side of the work emerging at “Arthur McBride” and the even more obscure, and tormented, “The Brides Of May”. There’s also something to say about the Ballad-driven “The Supper Tree”.
– – – : This album isn’t always easy to catch and especially for some chaotic passages. Like most releases from this project I’m still missing a true climax.
Conclusion: I’ve some mixed feelings with this album -and the project itself, as there are some excellent songs featured next to others I can’t really seize.
Best songs: “The Brides Of May”, “Arthur McBride”, “The Supper Tree”.
Rate: 6½.
Label: www.finalmuzik.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Final-Muzik/85814529244
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