The Optimist＜限定盤＞

大絶賛を浴びた01年デビュー作がボーナス・トラック追加で2LPリイシュー!!

「ジェフ・バックリーとマーク・ボランをミックスしたような…」と形容される天性の歌声を持つOLLY KNIGHTSとGALE PARIDJANIANによる英国フォークロック / インディーロック・デュオTURIN BRAKES。2001年にリリースされ大絶賛を浴びたデビューアルバム『THE OPTIMIST』が20周年を記念して待望の再発!

圧倒的存在感を放つOLLY KNIGHTSのヴォーカルを中心に、温かみ溢れるフォーキー・グルーヴ、途方もなく心地良いパーカッションと、リリース当時、英国音楽メディアを中心に大絶賛を浴びたのも納得でしかない内容! ボーナス・トラックとして、オリジナル・セッションからのデモ・トラックを収録した2枚組。

ブライトンの新レーベルTWO-PIERSからニュー・アートワークにて待望の再発!!

Part of the so-called quietcore movement in Britain, where folk meets pop. The Optimist is by turns delicate, impassioned, wistful, and androgynous. The lyrics come at the listener indirectly, quite a few of them refer to relationships in an angsty manner, and there are oblique ecological and anti-corporate references. It's as if After the Gold Rush (with its silver space ships) and the films The Man Who Fell to Earth and Bladerunner have all been put in a blender. Maybe this belies Ollie Knights' film studies background, or it's alien(ation) fallout from Radiohead. The standout track's are "The Door," which is infused with the sound of "Breathe" by Pink Floyd; "State of Things"; and "Mind Over Money." Elsewhere, "By TV Light" has the atmosphere of a sozzled aftermath, and "The Road" has some tasty slide work and a raga-like guitar motif. After repeat plays, the meanings of many of the songs are still a little obscure, but the feeling definitely grows. There seem to be traces of earthlings here and there – is that the spectral presence of the renowned Homosapien Paul Simon? Despite the acoustic setting this is almost as weird and original as Mercury Rev or early Captain Beefheart. File under: I'm not sure what's going on here, but it's interesting. ~ Mark Joseph