-=- SHGZ -=-
* Shoegaze * Indie * Post-Rock * Grunge * Dream Pop * Psych-Rock * Ethereal *
ARTIST..: Virginia Astley
ALBUM...: Hope In A Darkened Heart
GENRE...: Ambient
STYLE...: Electronic, Ethereal, Dream Pop, Abstract, Minimal
YEAR....: 1992
LABEL...: WEA
COUNTRY.: United Kingdom
PLACE...: Garston, Hertfordshire
ENCODER.: FLAC 1.3.1 -8 -V
BITRATE.: 749 kbps avg
QUALITY.: 44.1kHz / 2 channels
SOURCE..: CD
TRACKS..: 10
SIZE....: 229.05 MB
URL..: https://www.virginiaastley.com/disc/albums/html/hope_cd2.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Astley
https://www.virginiaastley.com/biography
https://www.bing.com/k/celebrities/virginia-astley/timeline
- TRACKLIST
1 Some Small Hope 4:10
2 A Father 3:50
3 So Like Dorian 4:32
4 I'm Sorry 5:44
5 Tree Top Club 3:49
6 Charm 5:01
7 Love's A Lonely Place To Be 3:27
8 A Summer Long Since Passed 4:37
9 Darkness Has Reached Its End 3:49
10 A Day, A Night (Japan Bonus Track) 3:43
Total Playtime: 42:42
Reissue with bonus track 1992 (WEA - WMC5-567).
Originally released in 1986 (WEA û 242039-2)
https://www.discogs.com/release/1657512-Virginia-Astley-Hope-In-A-Darkened-Heart
*
Virginia Astley is a dream pop singer/songwriter from the UK. Her 4th
full-length release "Hope In A Darkened Heart" (1986) is nine-track album,
seven of which were produced by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (????). As
the title implies, the general theme is centered on introspection and the
endeavor to establish resolution during times of emotional turmoil. The
opening track "Some Small Hope" was written by Virginia Astley and Mr.
Sakamoto, and is sang as a duet between her and former Japan vocalist David
Sylvian. It comes as no surprise therefore, that her work had gained quite a
bit of popularity in Japan compared to the small-scale groups of devoted
listeners throughout England.
The remainder of the album features Ms. Astley singing solo. If I had to
compare her vocals to anyone, it would most likely have to be Annie Haslam,
who is best known as lead singer for the English progressive rock band
Renaissance. Albeit neither reaching a vocal range as high nor performing
quite as powerfully, which to be fair was unlikely the intention given the
nature of the material, Ms. Astley sings with the same gentle quality that
Annie had for Renaissance's ballad tracks, all the while exercising just the
right amount of breath control.
Two other tracks I feel are worth highlighting are "A Summer Long Since
Passed" and "Darkness has Reached its End". The former is an alternative
version that was originally featured on the 1983 release "From Gardens Where
We Feel Secure", and while it has no actual lyrics, Astley's vocals serve as
an additional instrument nonetheless. It's become one of her most well-known
songs among fans. The latter serves as a conclusion to the spiritual journey
that was narrated in the preceding songs. Reference is made to a growing
child, which symbolizes how time will continue to move forward and how
despite having her own share of regrets in life, her optimism outweighs the
pain she had experienced.
Although this album was a somewhat accidental discovery, I am grateful to
have had the opportunity to explore it, and it is undoubtedly something I
expect to revisit frequently. Ryuichi Sakamoto, who has always been known for
his emotional piano pieces, creates melodies that are both suitable for the
material and complementary to Ms. Astley's voice. If you're someone with a
profound appreciation for melancholic, introspective, and eloquent forms of
self-expression, "Hope in a Darkened Heart" is certainly worth your time. - RYM
-=- SHGZ -=-
-=-=-==-=-=-
Dream Pop
is a subgenre of
alternative rock and neo-psychedelia
that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop
melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions,
and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo, and chorus. It often
overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze, and the
two genre terms have at times been
used interchangeably.
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