A UNIVERSE BETWEEN US.
In a dark & gloomy northern town, there does exist a gentlemans club. Not just any old club, where fat blokes go to drink beer, smoke fags & talk crap. NO SIR! This particular, once weekly, Wednesday evening soiree has it's roots firmly entrenched in ancient & sinister, secret societies. One who's membership can be traced back over the centuries! One whos entrance betwixt those hallowed doors does not depend on finance, power & political influence, but on knowledge! For only the righteous and just, know that knowledge is power! To become a member, one must overcome a series of tests, both physical & mental, which make the entrance to the freemasons appear like Noddys daytrip to toytown!
Dear reader, I have already divulged more information than my life is worth! However it is at this very club (which shall be known to all here as 'Fat Club') where the beautiful music of Nick Marsh is endorsed by one & every member, where one & all have sworn under oath, to go forth into the world & spread the gospel.
Which is where your old mate Flash comes in!
'A Universe Between Us' was initially released in, I believe 2006, then given a facelift & re-issued in 2010. So where the hell was I? How come I knew nothing about this? To these & to more cutting questions I just cannot give an answer! (Answers on an e-mail to Ihaventgotafuckinclueme.com) However, a huge debt of gratitude is owed to a certain 'Miss Burns' for introducing me to this magnificent opus.
Now Our Nick has been lovingly described by some in this 'ere parish, as a Frank Sinatra from hell! Not an analogy I'd particularly agree with as I do believe that Nick is doing it his own way. (Groan)!
However, I can see where people are drawing their comparisons from.
The influences one can hear in this album are countless. From Andy Williams to the Beach Boys, me & the boys from 'Fat Club' have come up with multitudes.
That's not to say that 'Ol' Nick' can be accused of any kind of plaigarism; 'no sirree!' Why my dears, this magnificent piece of work is merely the product of a truly beautiful mind.
'Destiny Angel' kicks off the album in a fine guitar driven ballad style. All dark, swampy & moody, setting the precedent for the rest of the album!
'Devil Child' is a mellow, haunting, string laden number, which rolls along very nicely & has a chorus which seems to come out of nowhere & totally lifts you to another place. 'Girl on the roof' has a distinctly European feel to it, (don't ask me why or how, it just does!) & sees our velvet voiced crooner telling the tale of a young girl contemplating taking her final step from 'the ledge'.
The title track of the album is just....well it's.........EXQUISITE! I tell you what cherubs, as a special treat, get a load of the video right here!
Oh, the bliss!!!!!!!
'Red hot & ready' invokes images of the seedy late night bars that you might see in 'The Man With The Golden Arm'. Or the kind of place where pleasure doesn't come without its cost!
'The Smoking gun' sees dear old Nick riddled with bullet holes at the hands of a totally unfeeling femme fatale (is there any other kind?)
Candidate for best song title ever, ever, bloody ever, is 'Best Shag In The World'. A cautionary tale of obsession & lust, for those of us who have drunk of the cup & its intoxication I can still well recall. The vocals are beautifully executed, with its flamenco style guitar intro & trademark spaghetti western haunting whistle, suffused with just the right amount of humour, you don't get much closer to musical perfection than this!
'Don't Give Up On Me' is as close as you'll get to a straight rocker from Nick on this album, whereas 'Organazised' has our man in repentant, morning after mood, threatening to get his life sorted. That's another cup I've been drinking from recently!
'El Deludo' is a haunting instrumental piece with female vocal 'aaaaaahs' ebbing & flowing in & out of the number. Talk about knowing how to build a mood!
The final track (ok, I haven't actually put them in the right order, so who's counting?) is the old Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra classic 'Some Velvet Morning', which remains quite true in delivery to the original. Just to give you a hint as to the direction Mr Marsh is coming from on this album.
Overall, this album could/should be a film noir classic. Dark & full of mean brooding menace, yet strangely uplifting at the same time. It has perfectly arranged strings & female vocal harmonies, never overstated, just done to a tee like a perfectly flambeed fillet steak.
In a just & righteous world where musical genius is actually recognised, this would & should have sold by the gazillion. This album has to be the most played album, if not in West Yorkshire then in the magnificent borough of Pontefract. My sweet little cherubs, this is the part where you should be digging deep & investing in a little piece of musical ecstasy. If you trust your old mate Flash & I strongly recommend that you do, then know this! If you can't dig this album, then you surely have the piss of a rancid polecat coursing through your veins.
I also have it on good authority that Nick Marsh has a new album due for release sometime in the spring. With this, should bring some live shows. Me & the boys from Fat Club are salivating & making travel plans already.
Dear readers, for I know you are bountiful in number; please help your old mate Flash stop with the yakkety yak already......stick this cd into your stereo, turn down the lights, lay back & ABSOOOOOOORB!!!
Chin chin!!
Dear reader, I have already divulged more information than my life is worth! However it is at this very club (which shall be known to all here as 'Fat Club') where the beautiful music of Nick Marsh is endorsed by one & every member, where one & all have sworn under oath, to go forth into the world & spread the gospel.
Which is where your old mate Flash comes in!
'A Universe Between Us' was initially released in, I believe 2006, then given a facelift & re-issued in 2010. So where the hell was I? How come I knew nothing about this? To these & to more cutting questions I just cannot give an answer! (Answers on an e-mail to Ihaventgotafuckinclueme.com) However, a huge debt of gratitude is owed to a certain 'Miss Burns' for introducing me to this magnificent opus.
Now Our Nick has been lovingly described by some in this 'ere parish, as a Frank Sinatra from hell! Not an analogy I'd particularly agree with as I do believe that Nick is doing it his own way. (Groan)!
However, I can see where people are drawing their comparisons from.
The influences one can hear in this album are countless. From Andy Williams to the Beach Boys, me & the boys from 'Fat Club' have come up with multitudes.
That's not to say that 'Ol' Nick' can be accused of any kind of plaigarism; 'no sirree!' Why my dears, this magnificent piece of work is merely the product of a truly beautiful mind.
'Devil Child' is a mellow, haunting, string laden number, which rolls along very nicely & has a chorus which seems to come out of nowhere & totally lifts you to another place. 'Girl on the roof' has a distinctly European feel to it, (don't ask me why or how, it just does!) & sees our velvet voiced crooner telling the tale of a young girl contemplating taking her final step from 'the ledge'.
The title track of the album is just....well it's.........EXQUISITE! I tell you what cherubs, as a special treat, get a load of the video right here!
'Red hot & ready' invokes images of the seedy late night bars that you might see in 'The Man With The Golden Arm'. Or the kind of place where pleasure doesn't come without its cost!
'The Smoking gun' sees dear old Nick riddled with bullet holes at the hands of a totally unfeeling femme fatale (is there any other kind?)
Candidate for best song title ever, ever, bloody ever, is 'Best Shag In The World'. A cautionary tale of obsession & lust, for those of us who have drunk of the cup & its intoxication I can still well recall. The vocals are beautifully executed, with its flamenco style guitar intro & trademark spaghetti western haunting whistle, suffused with just the right amount of humour, you don't get much closer to musical perfection than this!
'Don't Give Up On Me' is as close as you'll get to a straight rocker from Nick on this album, whereas 'Organazised' has our man in repentant, morning after mood, threatening to get his life sorted. That's another cup I've been drinking from recently!
'El Deludo' is a haunting instrumental piece with female vocal 'aaaaaahs' ebbing & flowing in & out of the number. Talk about knowing how to build a mood!
The final track (ok, I haven't actually put them in the right order, so who's counting?) is the old Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra classic 'Some Velvet Morning', which remains quite true in delivery to the original. Just to give you a hint as to the direction Mr Marsh is coming from on this album.
Overall, this album could/should be a film noir classic. Dark & full of mean brooding menace, yet strangely uplifting at the same time. It has perfectly arranged strings & female vocal harmonies, never overstated, just done to a tee like a perfectly flambeed fillet steak.
In a just & righteous world where musical genius is actually recognised, this would & should have sold by the gazillion. This album has to be the most played album, if not in West Yorkshire then in the magnificent borough of Pontefract. My sweet little cherubs, this is the part where you should be digging deep & investing in a little piece of musical ecstasy. If you trust your old mate Flash & I strongly recommend that you do, then know this! If you can't dig this album, then you surely have the piss of a rancid polecat coursing through your veins.
I also have it on good authority that Nick Marsh has a new album due for release sometime in the spring. With this, should bring some live shows. Me & the boys from Fat Club are salivating & making travel plans already.
Dear readers, for I know you are bountiful in number; please help your old mate Flash stop with the yakkety yak already......stick this cd into your stereo, turn down the lights, lay back & ABSOOOOOOORB!!!
Chin chin!!
I'll try and check this out, always had a soft spot for Flesh For Lulu. All the best for the festive times flash.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nuzz, you will not be dissapointed. it's a truly great album. Fondest regards to you & yours for the holiday season mate!
ReplyDelete