& (Ampersand)

アンパサンドは物事を親密かつ魔法のように結びつける。"&"(アンパサンド)は、ダン・スミスによる美しいバスティルのニューアルバムの作品名でもあり、驚くべき女性と男性の人生と広い世界を絡めたストーリー・ソング集でもある。

詩人や芸術家、人類学者や科学者、宗教や神話に登場する人物、アウトサイダー、先駆者たち、そのすべてが、スミスが創り出した静謐で呪術的な音世界の中で命を吹き込まれる。このアルバムは、新たなコラボレーション、目もくらむようなアレンジ、そして他者に耳、心、そして心を開きたいという願望を持った自由な音楽の伝染する精神に支えられている。

Created by Dan Smith while the rest of the bands members took a break after the Give Me the Future tour, & [Ampersand] is something of a return to Bastilles roots, since it was originally Smiths solo project. As if to reflect the slimmer lineup, Smith dials down Bastilles usual high-impact sound, favoring gentle vocals and softly strummed and plucked guitars for the albums stories of historical and mythological figures. Even if & [Ampersand] doesnt sound quite like Bastilles other albums, the way Smith gives familiar tales a fresh perspective harks back to the "Pompeii" days, especially when the chanted hook kicks in on the prologue "Intros & Narrators." Theres still something endearing in the wonder he finds in the world and people around him as he brings his songs subjects down to earth while celebrating their accomplishments. On "Marie & Polonium," he champions Marie Curies ultimately fatal devotion to her scientific discoveries as "the most rock n roll thing that I might have ever heard." & [Ampersand]s more intimate settings let Smiths thoughtful lyrics take the lead on "Eve & Paradise Lost," which tells the story of that fateful bite of the apple and its aftermath ("I will always take the fall for us"), and on "Seasons & Narcissus," a clever retelling of the mythical love story ("Life rolls by/While we waste away"). Smith doesnt forsake cloud-busting sonics entirely. The Paul Robeson-inspired "Essie & Paul" boasts Bastille-sized choruses even without lavish instrumentation, while "Blue Sky & the Painter" turns Edvard Munchs battle with depression into one of the albums most buoyant highlights. While & [Ampersand]s arrangements occasionally sound too similar to each other, the albums gentler, more reflective incarnation of Bastille still offers plenty for fans who love the bands way with storytelling as much as their usually epic sound. ~ Heather Phares

全英1位に返り咲いた2022年の『Give Me The Future』以来となる5枚目のオリジナル・アルバムは、これまでのポップな作風とは打って変わり、生楽器を中心としたアコースティック主体な作りに驚かされる。ゆえにダン・スミスのヴォーカルとメロディーがより際立って響き、彼の人間味溢れる繊細な歌声が十二分に味わえる。感傷的ななかにも温もりを感じさせる美しい作品だ。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二