Search - Shelleyan Orphan :: Century Flower

Folk, Celtic and melodic rock blend to sublime effect.

D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 04/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shelleyan Orphan's greatest weapon is lead singer Caroline Crawley, whose winning voice is tempered by Irish choir techniques (akin to early Dolores O'Riordan, but with much less of that annoying crack in her intonation) and lyrics rich with poeticism.Century Flower is the band's second album and probably its most folksy, but still infused with pop delights. Lead track "Shatter" makes violins and saxophones sound rocking, sexy and vibrant instead of conservative or subdued, "Tar Baby" has an enchanting atmosphere and a moody rhythm over Crawley's heartfelt singing, "Timeblind" has flawless harmonies between the divine Crawley and her partner Jemaur Tayle, restrained but charming, and "Summer Flies" marries its lyrical theme wonderfully with music that supports all the imagery.Get this one before it disappears into the "out of print" wastelands once again."

Chamber pop torch song beauty

Stinji | Northampton, MA USA | 04/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had to chime in here, as the one Amazon review regarding this disc was quite clearly written by a non-fan. That's fine, but to pick the Corrs over Shelleyan Orphan is like picking Lou Barlow over Jerry Lee Lewis. I just don't see any connection. Look, when this record hit at the end of the 80's it was a beautiful bookend to an overlooked genre, which never even really got a name that I know of. It was the overspill from the Smiths/Cure fanbase that was looking for something even more romantic, saccharine and chambery. I guess Kate Bush would be the best alternative example. Unfortunately, Tori Amos took the torch, successfully at first, and promptly extinguished it in a unicorn's ass somewhere around 1995. The pretty, carefully crafted arrangements on the first Shelleyan Orphan record are romantic and bittersweet and yes, a little over the top. But if you're a fan of Antony & the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Buckley or even (shudder) Bright Eyes, you'll be a fan of this record. Their tour with the Cure led to the relative popularity of their follow-up record, which was good, though something was lost (a little overproduced, for one thing). For my money, though, this is the record to go with. There. Buy it. Okay, I'll shut up now."

Victoriana coming of age

silverbadger | Manchester, UK | 05/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, I do prefer 1987`s 'Helleborine' - as the last reviewer quite rightly said, it`s over-the-top and the classical composition displays so much attention to detail it borders on obsession - but for beauty and sheer escapism hardly anything else comes close. Having said that, 'Century Flower' is a delight to listen to. The sweeping Victorian musical vistas of 'Helleborine' get a kick - there`s a psychedelic Floyd/Strawberry Alarm Clock edge to tracks like 'Timeblind' and 'Self', although the overall effect is entirely their own creation. Highlights are the pastoral country-house loveliness of the title track, the explosive, breathy 'Shatter', the gloriously twisted prettiness of 'Timeblind' and the pounding 'The Silent Day'. A band unlike any other."