Date: Sun, 17 Dec 1995 15:14:19 +0100 From: Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen (larsi@IFI.UIO.NO) Subject: Late, late Kendra Smith - Five Ways of Disappearing After hearing about her "performance" at the AVAM do I was ready to enjoy this album. "Surely," I thought to myself, "she can't be *that* bad. I'm sure they just misunderstood her genious. Or something." This album is bad beyond belief. No - that's not accurate. It's ordinary beyond belief. It's dull. It's boring. It's tuneless. It's (dare I say it) *adult*. Yecchh! It starts off with this song called "Eurelia" which sounds like Smith was thinking "how about if I take that drony sound Joy Division used in their least perky moments and added a five hour wank-fest guitar solo at the end? Yes! What genious!" In fact, I find it hard to get past that song at all. The rest of the album is quite inoffensive in its total blandness, but... that song really sets the mood. There's not a single choon on the entire album. There's nothing interesting anywhere at all. It's... it's... Words fail me. This is the worst album I have. This is the worst thing 4AD have ever released. There are no redeeming qualities. Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 22:03:46 PDT From: naor (naor_y@NETVISION.NET.IL) Subject: Re: 5 Ways of disapearing.. assuming that we're talking about the same album, '5 ways of disappearing' is well worth listening to. if you must liken it to a well known release, the only thing I can think of right now is the irish band 'clanad'. the difference being that 'clanad' is tacky and boring, while '5 ways' can be great. (when you're in a certain mood). the album is based on the sound of an ancient pump organ accompanied by atmospheric guitars, heavy drums, and kendra smith's deadpan vocals. the songs consist of "natural" lyrics, (lousy phrase,ye') in the sense that a 13'th century man would have no problem understanding most of it. hence the comparison to 'clanad'. but unlike 'clanad' the music here tends to be more dark and mysterious, and sometimes even gothic. like I said, you have to be in a certain mood. that's all naor "I can't believe I ate the whole thing"