Bill Nelson - Still Bill Nelson
Michael Thomas Roe | Atlanta | 04/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bill Nelson's prolific musical output has not waned in the least, yet access to his current material has become increasingly difficult. Blame the record companies; blame the dodgy managers and distributors. Fact is, Bill has been taking it to the streets and doing it his damn self. This is nice in theory but hard on the fans' pocket books (particularly in the US). Enter "Whimsy", a fully affordable, entertaining, engaging, somewhat challenging, clever, inspiring, all over the map, chock full two CD affair of almost recent Bill Nelson music (2000) which, in full glorious Nelson-techno-color, manages to bring the faithful back in to the fold.
"Whimsy" is an apt title, to say the least. Bill has created an almost indefinable pastiche of vocals, movie dialog, orchestra samples, guitar, synthesizers, percussion and noises; the theory seeming to be that more is more. But, remarkably, the music stands the strain with those Bill Nelson melodies and chord changes we all know and love. He appears to be saying "let the younger musicians cloak themselves with smoke and mirrors, but I am forever the troubadour with guitar in hand". Pretty cool. And he is still quite the poet. His romantic imagery manages to surprise, evoking leaves trembling on trees, church bells in the night, sails in the sunset and nostalgia incurring daydreams and remembrances. It is the stuff of dreams and, with Bill's sinuous and tasteful guitar - as effective as ever- something to behold."
Quit dreaming and get on the beam Bill
N. Clark | Sacramento, CA USA | 02/10/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Was nice to see Mr. Nelson's product back in the racks of the local record store. I picked up this double CD and wondered if I would find the usual musical noodlings or something more essential. Alas, it's a collection of the former rather than the latter. No real surprises here. Pretty sounds but nothing that really grabs you.
I wish Bill would piece back together his 'Red Noise' incarnation, hit the road and then record a follow up to 'Sound on Sound' which for me remains his defining edgy masterpiece."
Track Listings (40) - Disc #1
