| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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After what can only called a strange album – Music From The Films Of R/Swift, Oregon multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift finally plays it down the middle, with excellent results. The Atlantic Ocean is a testament to his unique songwriting skills and musicianship. In the mould of say Harry Nilsson or Randy Newman, Swift has conjured-up some fine tunes, many of which would grace the BBC Radio 2 playlist. There’s nothing grand going on here, but what he’s created with a simple sound (and instruments), is top drawer, as he effectively straddles several genres and American songbooks. Atlantic Ocean owes its thrust and beat to Motown’s Funk Brothers and 80s synth-pop, whereas closer Lady Luck draws on the falsetto box of Smokey Robinson’s balladeering. Sandwiched between these two contrasting gems are playful excursions such as the bouncy foot-tapper The Original Thought with a quirky nod to music hall, a la Randy Newman, especially the vocal.
On Ballad Of Old What’s His Name, produced by Mark Ronson no less, he’s secured the services of, now wait for it, Ryan Adams (gasp!), Ronson and (bigger gasp!) Sean Lennon, who knows a thing or two about timeless music. Collectively, their dreamy backups are a thing of beauty. The strangest fusion of all happens on Bat Coma Motown. He gets the beat going with a retro Motown rhythm sugared by brass and pinging banjo creating the oddest sound, but it’s the standout track by far. Then, as if all this genre-hopping wasn’t enough, he plays a blinder by doing a slower 21st century equivalent of Lady Madonna – A Song For Milton Feher. The verdict – Classy pop.
Weblink: richardswift.us
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
