A Rare Treat That Should Be Known Better

[jazzy_dave]

Thanks to beer_good_foamy for posting this video. I have been enraptured by this track from the leader of Prefab Sprout ,( the one and only Paddy McAloon ) from his album I Travel The Megahertz.

The title track is a piece of music theatre that is haunting beyond measure. Paddy McAloon has created a unique soundscape and a musical language of yearning emotion, it is quite unlike anything else you’ll have heard. Prefab Sprout fans will recognize the lushness and melodic sweep but the timescale has been stretched to encompass a 22 minute spoken drama detailing one woman's roller-coaster ride through loss, new found love, and further loss leading towards an uncertain resolution. Narrated by the mellifluous tones of Yvonne Connor, the sweeping, highly romantic backing conveys an enormous emotional weight.
The project began when McAloon – forced by illness induced insomnia – found himself drawn into the twilight world of late night phone-in shows. His writers ear began picking out stories and patterns of lost love and loneliness.

It seems that this lush, fascinating mellifluous and moving score.has been inspired by other composers of deep melancholia. "Trawling the Megahertz" is Gavin Bryars vs The Blue Nile vs Ennio Morricone or some hybrid form of these soundscapers. Just brilliant!

Enjoy.

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Definitely saving to listen to soon!

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad this struck a chord with you! And I know the feeling - when this album came out, I must have listened to the title track every day for over a month.