@la_catalina Hey there, R. Genuinely good (and equally surprising!) to see you here. Even if you're just passing through it's a pleasure.

I think it's genuinely different trying try explain why something doesn't work for you than to explain why it does. Not sure which is harder to do well. Actually, explaining why parts of something taint something you still like is even harder so well handled, tatty.

For me, it was just the sort of thing I wanted right now but that's as much to do with my headspace of recent times colliding with what they put out. Between losing/finding work, seeing the contents of my head colouring concrete (realising you're more Halber Mensch than Übermensch colours life somewhat) and a few more years on the clock I wanted something I could wrap myself in and this does that very well.

I'm lucky in that some of things a couple of people including yourself have mentioned as the things that put you off are equally working for me. No rhyme nor reason.

I know it won't supplant the space that FM occupies - what would - but I guess I'm ok with that. There's something about any bands first album that is near impossible to capture again if they get it right from the off and they certainly did with that.

I can see your JB reasonings too, tatty, and you explain them very well. If subconsciously you're thinking "I'd love to make an album that has the same effect as....." then it's always going to steer closer to it rather than running parallel. Also, a great point of yours to do with the relative nature of context, age & bodies of work. Utterly unavoidable and something I'd never thought of before.

I'm possibly far too invested in the album right now to give a proper review. I know I really like it a lot and I know it's earworming me from various angles a stupid amount. It also definitely feels like it was meant, and works far better, as an album rather than a collection of individual tracks. You know, like us fogeys used to have to enjoy back in the day :))

Going back to your mention of Head First, La_Catalina, I think that the one thing that killed it for me was that it did (and does for me still) feel like two EP's jammed together with the wrong type of glue - a Goldfrapp one and a Scissor Sisters one. That's where TOU succeeds - things fit together.

Far too early yet to decide where this sits in the grand scheme of things but at this second it's doing the job. It's a particularly good start.

stevil said:

ugh why placate the obvious return to assassinate.......really come on carpy

Easy, tiger! I only said it was a pleasure (and surprise) to see her and it is on both counts, especially the latter.

The rest was as much directed to Tatty really - I do like his posting. I understand a lot of his point of view on music and enjoy reading his stuff. Not sure if it's a style thing or an age thing ;)  :))

I've said the HF bit many times before and can't see any reason at all to put it anywhere near TOU. Whatever the relative intents at the time I know which of the two will still be getting very few complete plays and it's not TOU.

la_catalina said:

I'm in agreement with Tatty in that I've no wish to become one  of those sad fuckers who's music tastes solidify after they hit 40 or whatever.... there's loads of interesting new things out there... I'm off to see Willis Earl Beal when he's over this side of the pond, he's a great find  - who'd thought I'd hear echoes of Beefheart  wow!  so I keep an open mind... I just like imagination and people doing new and different things. 

Like Tatty said domewhere in this dialogue, I would just like to have been suprised, I don't want or need another FM,It'd just be nice to have that quality of amazement restored!

Peronally, and I think I said this back when HF emerged, maybe the innovation has gone and Alison should collaborate  with another musician, instead of, or besides Will, just to inject some fresh blood into things.

 Likewise to Tatt , I`m 47 and fell in love with music in July 1978 (boring reason deleted) , punk music made an impression on me and caused my ears to listen outside the box (more than fall in love with punk itself) . My frames of reference are that TOU sounds new to me as I only have a passing reference to John Barry orchestral trademarks and the concept of Scott Walker doesn`t interest me - whereas BC was a boiling cauldron of pieces of all the synth bands and uses of synths I`ve listened to since t` time t` began (or thats how it feels) buts thats just a product of our frames of reference as you note . To concur with the pair of ye , stopping loving new music and drawing a line in time where it stops seems one step from "Hey honey , lets go out and order our matching coffins today , then we can talk about fridges" .

Wow.

^^^^ Hahahaha

It is lovely to have Duch back (it has been ages and she is a sweetie :)  )  I happen to love TOU and have prattled on endlessly to such effect it is just as important that if she is not keen on it that she can express her opinion....(although it does appear that Annabell hs snuck in and burrowed into her brain hahahaha!!!!)
Whenever I think of her it is with great fondness and a visual of her spinning around like a mad thing on the beach with Supernature blaring in the background :)

What..................where???????

nicholasyund said:

and with time I believe this will be known as their BEST album. 

Nope. Felt Mountain will be. Has been for years. S'all anyone bangs on about.

Kiyuri said:

nicholasyund said:

and with time I believe this will be known as their BEST album. 

Nope. Felt Mountain will be. Has been for years. S'all anyone bangs on about.

They should announce Felt Mountain 2.

nicholasyund said:

Give Tales of Us some time...it doesn't have to oddity of Felt Mountain which I still adore. Yet it does have this thread that none of their other albums can match:) This is coming from a fan who has loved them for 13 years since they started.

This.