02/09/12: Nick Grey And The Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch (2008) [Crossover Review 2]

02/09/12: Nick Grey And The Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch (2008) [Crossover Review 2]

1. King Flood
2. Miller, 1918
3. Your Greatest Hunger
4. Black Paper, Mountain
5. Couvre-Feu
6. Italian Cities Fight Smog
7. La Zone Battue
8. Setting Expectations
9. Porno Drone (Evil SPiders Have Put A Curse On Our Garden)

     Wow, I am a whole week behind. But anyways this is my second crossover review picked by oksentaminen. You can see his original review here. I had definitely not heard of Nick Grey before but based on his review I knew I would be able to get into it. I would say his description of the very hard to describe sound is accurate. A bit ambient, a bit folk and a lot experimental. This is probably a prog record in a way. Each song sweeps and changes and flows into each other. I listened to "Spin Vows Under Arch" 3 or 4 times over the last few days I was working and I caught something different and beautiful each time. Different singers coming in and out of soundscapes. Ghostly buildups at times that almost reminded me of Sigur Ros. I have to give it a couple more listens to really get a grasp of what I have listened to but a quality album. Once I figure out whats happening here I'd like to check out what else Nick Grey has done. Good pick oksentaminen. (040)

Nick Grey & the Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch

Don't You Remember A Long Time Ago?

#19) Nick Grey & the Random Orchestra - Spin Vows Under Arch (2008)

 1. King Flood (The Slide)
 2. Miller, 1918
 3. Your Greatest Hunger
 4. Black Paper, Mountain
 5. Couvre-Feu
 6. Italian Cities Fight Smog
 7. La Zone Battue
 8. Setting Expectations
 9. Porno Drone (Evil Spiders Have Put A Curse On Our Garden)  

i was a little nervous about this album going into it. the cover art is pretty lame and the whole "Random Orchestra" thing just put me off for some reason. i was wrong. i've been having a really hard time thinking of how to describe this. the album opens with a dark ambient soundscape but by the 2nd track it's like some weird sort of cabaret-y type song and then track 3 is a mellow electronic Radiohead-ish (yes, Radiohead is a lazy and not entirely accurate comparison, i know) jam that also has some live brass. that should give you an idea of what's going on here. he (Nick Grey) seems to tag his music as "Ambient Folk Prog" which still doesn't really help describe the music. i HIGHLY recommend just going here http://nickgrey.bandcamp.com/album/spin-vows-under-arch stream the album and judge for yourself.
as for me, i'm definitely gonna find some more Nick Grey records.