Artist:   A Dancing Beggar
Title:    Follow The Dark As If It Were Light
Label:    Audiobulb
Genre:    Ambient
Bitrate:  246kbit av.
Time:     00:52:18
Size:     97.37 mb
Rip Date: 2011-04-30
Str Date: 2011-05-30

01. Creeping Into Dusk                                            5:32
02. Empty Boats                                                   7:37
03. Stars Bring Us Closer                                         7:52
04. There Is Hope Here                                            7:07
05. Returning                                                     9:47
06. Forget This Place                                             7:29
07. Here Come The Wolves                                          6:54

Release Notes:

ôFollow the Dark As If It Were Lightö is the second full-length for
James Simmons under the A Dancing Beggar moniker. Across the seven
songs that make up the album Simmons resists the verse chorus structure
in favour of what he calls æadventuresÆà

The album seems firmly rooted in the post-rock tradition, a tough genre
to get right. But Simmons knows the formula and has enough conviction
in his songwriting to keep it fresh and relevant. And as far as
evolution of an artist goes, this one could be a contender for
revelation of the year as Simmons shows growth in leaps and bounds and
delivers an album that lingers with the listener long after the music
stops.

From note one of ôFollow the Darkàö itÆs clear that this is an album of
nuance and texture. Often the songs seem to move in layers; A layer may
consist of, say, guitar and piano, rather than a single instrument.
Each layer seems to build on a particular melody. As a result, itÆs as
if each melody is a voice adding to a choir.

To talk about the album in terms of individual songs is near pointless
as this is an album that will have you listening from beginning to end
each time you hit play. And in return what Simmons delivers is a moving
album where quality never waivers. Now, in fairness, the album does
take a slight detour with ôEmpty Boatsö which doesnÆt quite evolve the
same way the other songs do. It has the most prominent vocal track on
the album and seems unsure whether it wants to be a traditional A-B
pop-song or an instrumental post-rock composition. As a result, what we
get is something thatÆs stuck in between the two approaches and thus
lacks direction. But even that is not enough to slow the album down.

ôReturningö and ôHere Come the Wolvesö are probably the best contenders
for singles from the album as both work as stand-alones but also serve
well as microcosms of the album as a whole. Both songs are just
note-perfect and seem to know exactly when to evolve. And each
evolution, each new layer, seems to add weight to the emotional thrust
of the songs.

ôFollow the Dark As If It Were Lightö wears its influences on its
sleeve, particularly Sigur Ros and Epic45. However, Simmons has a firm
grasp of what he is trying to achieve with this album and has such a
strong sense of melody that he really does offer up something special
here. As an artist Simmons has such a deep well of great melodies to
draw from; nonetheless, he deserves credit for being brave enough to
invest so many into each song. Presumably, the mastering work done by
Ludovic Morin (Sigur Ros, Fleet Foxes) canÆt be underestimated in its
contribution to the evolution of the artistÆs sound. None of this is to
write-off Simmons previous work as A Dancing Beggar, but simply to
acknowledge that the scope of his vision has expanded greatly.
Thankfully though, his work feels as deeply personal as ever.

I didn't know what genre to tag this, it's just beautiful.



This NFO File was rendered by NFOmation.net

Artist:   A Dancing Beggar
Title:    Follow The Dark As If It Were Light
Label:    Audiobulb
Genre:    Ambient
Bitrate:  246kbit av.
Time:     00:52:18
Size:     97.37 mb
Rip Date: 2011-04-30
Str Date: 2011-05-30

01. Creeping Into Dusk                                            5:32
02. Empty Boats                                                   7:37
03. Stars Bring Us Closer                                         7:52
04. There Is Hope Here                                            7:07
05. Returning                                                     9:47
06. Forget This Place                                             7:29
07. Here Come The Wolves                                          6:54

Release Notes:

“Follow the Dark As If It Were Light” is the second full-length for
James Simmons under the A Dancing Beggar moniker. Across the seven
songs that make up the album Simmons resists the verse chorus structure
in favour of what he calls ‘adventures’…

The album seems firmly rooted in the post-rock tradition, a tough genre
to get right. But Simmons knows the formula and has enough conviction
in his songwriting to keep it fresh and relevant. And as far as
evolution of an artist goes, this one could be a contender for
revelation of the year as Simmons shows growth in leaps and bounds and
delivers an album that lingers with the listener long after the music
stops.

From note one of “Follow the Dark…” it’s clear that this is an album of
nuance and texture. Often the songs seem to move in layers; A layer may
consist of, say, guitar and piano, rather than a single instrument.
Each layer seems to build on a particular melody. As a result, it’s as
if each melody is a voice adding to a choir.

To talk about the album in terms of individual songs is near pointless
as this is an album that will have you listening from beginning to end
each time you hit play. And in return what Simmons delivers is a moving
album where quality never waivers. Now, in fairness, the album does
take a slight detour with “Empty Boats” which doesn’t quite evolve the
same way the other songs do. It has the most prominent vocal track on
the album and seems unsure whether it wants to be a traditional A-B
pop-song or an instrumental post-rock composition. As a result, what we
get is something that’s stuck in between the two approaches and thus
lacks direction. But even that is not enough to slow the album down.

“Returning” and “Here Come the Wolves” are probably the best contenders
for singles from the album as both work as stand-alones but also serve
well as microcosms of the album as a whole. Both songs are just
note-perfect and seem to know exactly when to evolve. And each
evolution, each new layer, seems to add weight to the emotional thrust
of the songs.

“Follow the Dark As If It Were Light” wears its influences on its
sleeve, particularly Sigur Ros and Epic45. However, Simmons has a firm
grasp of what he is trying to achieve with this album and has such a
strong sense of melody that he really does offer up something special
here. As an artist Simmons has such a deep well of great melodies to
draw from; nonetheless, he deserves credit for being brave enough to
invest so many into each song. Presumably, the mastering work done by
Ludovic Morin (Sigur Ros, Fleet Foxes) can’t be underestimated in its
contribution to the evolution of the artist’s sound. None of this is to
write-off Simmons previous work as A Dancing Beggar, but simply to
acknowledge that the scope of his vision has expanded greatly.
Thankfully though, his work feels as deeply personal as ever.

I didn't know what genre to tag this, it's just beautiful.



This NFO File was rendered by NFOmation.net