Robert Fox Evergreen CD / 10 Tracks / 64.37 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Brown Bread and Thatched Cottages')

'Sceptred Isle' is a beautiful track, tranquil strings floating above the sound of the sea breaking on the shore. A piano melody pulls at the heart-stings while the backing becomes more ethereal. It is a fine opener setting the mood for the rest of the album which is inspired by England in general and English landscapes in particular. 'Brown Bread and Thatched Cottages' uses similar sounds but with the addition of a gentle rhythm, again piano being the lead instrument. 'Rolling Hills' kicks off with a gentle sequence and sympathetic percussion over uplifting wordless vocal pads. The pace quickens a little. This is a track which undulates like the subject matter but also imparts a feeling of awe. 'Song for a Dark Queen' changes the mood quite a bit as the wind blows across moorlands. A lead line enters and this time the sounds chosen are more medieval. A vocal is sung over the top but I can't make out the words (old English maybe, not sure). The overall feel is more like Clannad. A piano meanders over appropriate samples for 'The River'. It's a very tranquil track, ideal for chilling out to on a summer's day. 'Dirty Old Train' starts out moodily then an appropriately chugging rhythm strikes up. It's all quite hypnotic and again very relaxing. 'Cloisters' does have a slightly monastic feel to the choral backing but the piano just seems to meander a bit, still all very peaceful though. 'Woodland Carpet in Blue' has sampled birdsong in the background over which a staccato melody bounces cheerfully, juxtapositioned by moody string pads. A mixture of beauty and sorrow I suppose. 'Nightlife' combines pastoral themes with samples of a nocturnal city. Maybe we are looking in from the hills above. 'Land's End' is another vocal number but again in a language unknown to me. As with the rest of the album it is peaceful and relaxing but this particular number didn't work for me. Overall, the rest of the album is ideal for late night listening with a glass of wine in hand. (DL)

This page is part of a frame set. If you can't see the information strip to the left of the screen then click on the smd logo above.