Search - Edward Ka-Spel :: Caste O'graye Skreeens

Not my favourite, definetely

D. M. MATALLIN | Valencia, Spain | 09/08/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Edward Ka-spel is a genius.
Once said that, I'll admit that is an argueable sentence, but it caught your attention, I hope. All criticism on an artistic work, however objective we intend to sound, is finally a matter of opinion. For example, I consider myself a music lover and I think The Legendary Pink Dots is the best band that has ever existed, and should be considered in a parallel lever together with bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd or The Velvet Underground. But I know most people don't know The Legendary Pink Dots, and they are as music lovers as I am. So all's a matter of opinion, after all. My opinion: Edward Ka-spel is a genius.
How come, then, I rate this item with 2 stars? Because I think this is the least talented effort my admired Edward has ever done. Where is his emotional singing? where is his amazing melodies? where is his incredible ability to never bore? (strange sentence, I beg your pardon, but I don't know how to say it) This cd consists of 2 songs. The firts is over 50 minutes long; the 2nd is 2 or 3 minutes long. Almost completely electronic, the song progresses without abrupt changes, but on the contrary the evolution is so subtle that sometimes is quite boring, actually. It sometimes reminds me of The Legendary Pink Dots, since they also have many "ambient" songs (ambient used in a personal manner, though sometimes it's tru it reminds me even of FSOL). But it has very little to do.
However, I'd like to conclude saying that it seems to be his intention to be directly weird (he's always been deliciously weird, since he began 20 years ago, why being tastelessly weird?), I mean, it's not that he has lost his magic touch, but as if he wanted to sound anti-lpd on purpose. But his other solo albums are much much better. Anyway, I always say: in spite of everything I have just written, a criticism is just an opinion, you should forget my words and judge by yourself: listen to this album. (*But* if by any chance this has been the first cd you have listened to by this artist, either you like this cd or not, listen to more: they have very little to do. My advice: listen to The Legendary Pink Dots' 'The maria dimension', '9 lives to wonder', 'The golden age', 'The crushed velvet apocalypse', 'The tower'.............) thanks for reading"