The Last of England - CD
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 12:38 pm
I received my copy from Amazon on Friday, 20th January 2017 and ... have listened to 3 times all the way through. Superb and very evocative, every track.
As is usual for me, I have found 2 of the tracks that particularly resonate (no pun intended) with me:
1. The Last of England - The images it evoked were of a video shot using a drone (or helicopter) from the Eastern Docks at Dover, soaring up the cliffs then sweeping slowly to the Pharos at Dover Castle, followed by a slow circuit around the castle with a lingering static shot from the top of the keep. As the track progressed my minds eye took me on a journey of many castles in the country from Bodiam to Newcastle, taking in Leeds Castle, The Tower of London, Warwick Castle (too many to mention in a 'short' posting).
I know this piece is based on the painting by Ford Maddox Brown, which has a theme of leaving England, however, in the climate of the UK voting to leave the European Union it conjures up for me the changing image of England viewed with nostalgia and a spoonful of melancholy. I won't go deeper than that as I don't wish this to have a political edge - just thoughts and reminiscences of what has been, and trepidation of what may come to be.
2. Work - I am retired so there is a double edge to this piece in my imagination - nothing untoward, though perhaps I should leave this for another time lest I draw any attention from any psychologists (worse still psychiatrists).
Overall this is a very relaxing album to listen to and I shall try to do that again in the next few days. It would be even better to listen to Gordon playing some of the pieces live (possibly with Paul Ward) though it is more important he recovers his health than concern himself about playing to us.
In the meantime, thank you Gordon for another excellent album.
Kind regards and health to all
Brad
As is usual for me, I have found 2 of the tracks that particularly resonate (no pun intended) with me:
1. The Last of England - The images it evoked were of a video shot using a drone (or helicopter) from the Eastern Docks at Dover, soaring up the cliffs then sweeping slowly to the Pharos at Dover Castle, followed by a slow circuit around the castle with a lingering static shot from the top of the keep. As the track progressed my minds eye took me on a journey of many castles in the country from Bodiam to Newcastle, taking in Leeds Castle, The Tower of London, Warwick Castle (too many to mention in a 'short' posting).
I know this piece is based on the painting by Ford Maddox Brown, which has a theme of leaving England, however, in the climate of the UK voting to leave the European Union it conjures up for me the changing image of England viewed with nostalgia and a spoonful of melancholy. I won't go deeper than that as I don't wish this to have a political edge - just thoughts and reminiscences of what has been, and trepidation of what may come to be.
2. Work - I am retired so there is a double edge to this piece in my imagination - nothing untoward, though perhaps I should leave this for another time lest I draw any attention from any psychologists (worse still psychiatrists).
Overall this is a very relaxing album to listen to and I shall try to do that again in the next few days. It would be even better to listen to Gordon playing some of the pieces live (possibly with Paul Ward) though it is more important he recovers his health than concern himself about playing to us.
In the meantime, thank you Gordon for another excellent album.
Kind regards and health to all
Brad