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AN AMNESTY FOR BONNY THINGS ON SUNNY DAYS
Tracklist: Autumn, Earth and Stone, Indian Summer, Amnesty, Landfall, Sunlight on Leaves.
I have not previously come across Robert Andrews although the information for the CD states that he has had more than ten solo albums, well as appearing on Land of Yrx releases.
This is his first release on the Cyclops label.
Robert wrote the album and plays guitars, bass and keyboards. Fellow producer David Gates plays synthesisers and percussion, while guest musicians are Richard Benjamin (piano and keyboards) and Russell Davies -
guitar on one track.
I have seen this album described as having similarities to the Enid, but don't expect any overblown, pompous orchestration here because you just won't find it!
'Amnesty...' sets a relaxed, easy listening mood with lashings of classical guitar sounds allied with gentle piano playing. A mainly acoustic feel is enhanced with (mostly) subtle synthesiser work and the whole is reminiscent of a slowed down, more ambient Gordon Giltrap or Mike Oldfield.
I'm slightly confused as to which track is which - there are six tracks listed, and yet my CD player tells me that there are seven tracks present ... this may indicate that an extra track has been added, it may just
be that two tracks form one composition. This being an instrumental album, it's very difficult to tell ...
While on the whole the guitar playing is certainly well executed, the synthetic drums and sometimes too shrill synth sounds tend to grate somewhat in places - but when these are not in evidence (and they tend to be
concentrated at the beginning of the CD) the music is delicately understated and calming - and occasionally joyous.
While you are not going to find anything earth shatteringly new here, this album has some very beautiful, almost tranquillizing passages that are ideal for relaxing with.
Marisa 11th March, 2001
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