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Billy Mackenzie
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Transmission Impossible
One Little Indian
Release: 4/04/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
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It is with great dismay that upon finding this awesome set of
music, I discover that Billy Mackenzie ended his life in 1997.
He was a member of the 80's band The Associates, which
garnered Scotsman Mackenzie some notice as a songwriter.
Transmission Impossible is a set of his solo
material and it contains some of the most beautiful music
I've heard in a while.
A lot of this record sounds very Bowie-ish, not so much in
the actual vocals but in the haunting music, where parts
sound like they could have fit right in on the despondent
Diamond Dogs landscape. Most of the songs
are just piano and vocal, with guitar on a couple of cuts. The
credits don't mention who is playing.
The record begins with an amazing cover of the song made
famous by Nina Simone, "Wild Is The Wind" (also covered by
Bowie). It is achingly gorgeous here, with Mackenzie's voice
both subdued while caressing the notes, as well as showing
surprising power on certain notes. "Nocturne Seven" is just
as sadly gorgeous with an expressive piano working to set
off the vocals.
The ghostly choir augments "Satellite Life," and the piano is
once again the driving force behind "Never Turn Your Back
On Mother Earth." Mackenzie's captivating voice is the
commanding presence behind "Blue It Is," one of the
highlights of the record. Heck, everything is a highlight on
this record. It is indescribable. If you're in the mood for
beautifully depressing music, you can do no better than this.
This is simply a hauntingly perfect record. |
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