a r t i s t : West of Eden
t i t l e : Four
d a t e : 2006
l a b e l : none
g e n r e : Pop-Folk
r l s. d a t e : May/2006
t r a c k s : 12
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 63,2 MB
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We are familiar with the tales of Viking raids in times of
yore, when the Scandinavian marauders pillaged and raided the
coastal towns of the British Isles and later settled and gave
rise to the towns we know today. But now we have a genetic
conundrum passed by West of Eden, a fantastic Swedish group.
Did the genes of the raiders help to establish the music we
now call Irish or did they take back a music gene from the old
Irish population that has been transmitted over the centuries
to members of this band? Whatever the answer, put on this
album without knowing its roots and I defy you to identify the
country of origin.
On a dozen tracks West of Eden -- don't you just love the
name? -- brings us the best of contemporary folk in a Celtic
idiom. Jenny Schaub, the lead female singer, has a wonderful
vocal ability ideally suited to these original compositions.
Opening with the wonderfully titled "Auburn Skies," the album
captures the imagination and will hold it to the final bar of
the final track. "The Words I Forgot to Say" is one of the
best lost-love songs I have heard in a long while. Just listen
to lines like "In a little tin box on my bed stand; Lies a
gold ring and a fingered note; And there between the lines and
faded letters; All the words that got stuck in my throat."
They follow on with "True Believer," an upbeat song that
combines a great beat, a sort of Swedish/Irish mouth music and
beautiful lyrics. They retain this marvelous lyrical magic on
"Ghost of You." Listening to their use of the English
language, it is so easy to forget that this is not their first
language. They put many a lyricist born and bred to English to
shame.s
It is impossible to pick a favourite track from this album;
every one has great merit and will entrance the listener. OK,
I will stick my neck out and pick a favourite, especially for
the lyrics. That track has to be "Time," a song that revisits
a theme used so often by others but for writing a strong
delivery, West of Eden get my vote. "Time is a joker, time is
a thief; Time leaves you trembling like summer's last leaves;
Time is killer ruthless and strong; One day you're living, the
next day you're gone."
To confirm that Jenny is not the only voice of the group,
Martin Schaub takes over on "My Kind of Town."
Listening to this album one is reminded of pop music and 1974
when a Swedish group revitalized the industry. Maybe in 2006
West of Eden will help attract an even wider audience to the
contemporary folk scene.
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01-auburn skies [03:41]
02-the words that i forgot to say [03:25]
03-true believer [03:29]
04-ghost of you [03:12]
05-my kind of town [04:02]
06-just another sunset [03:18]
07-immortal [04:00]
08-time [03:13]
09-jigsaw puzzle [04:08]
10-could have been [02:54]
11-anywhere the wind blows [03:13]
12-four [03:10]
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41:45 min