Jason Ward is 30, lives in Perth, Western Australia and his fave Talk Talk album is be Spirit Of Eden for its amazing sense of space (just barely ahead of Laughing Stock). His own brilliant website The Trout Cave from where the review below is taken offers lots of great album reviews.
Lee Harris has recently played the drums on new and yet unreleased material from ex Bark Psychosis vocalist Graham Sutton.
Bark Psychosis - Hex
recommended by Jason Ward, The Trout Cave
Bark Psychosis were possibly my favourite band of the early 90s. Formed in 1986 by Graham Sutton and John Ling. They released four brilliant EPs over a number of years following contractual problems with their record company Cheree, finally ending up on Circa and Third Stone. These EPs were later collected on the Independency CD release. Their first and only full-length album was not released until 93. Over a year in the making, Hex effectively destroyed the band, yet remains to me one of the finest albums ever made. Their smoothest outing yet, it draws from references such as Talk Talk, The Blue Nile and in common with them, is perfect for rainy, 4am listening. Also in common with Talk Talk, Sutton and Co. are fond of utilising mistakes and atypical, distorted sounds as points of juxtaposition within songs. 'The Loom' opens the album beautifully with a minor key piano sequence layered with elegiac strings before the piano shifts, jazzy, brushed percussion and deep bass builds into a loping rhythm. Sutton's optimistic lyrics are accompanied by thick, heavenly Hammond organ and rising strings and before you know it, the rug is wrenched from beneath you and the song hypnotically fades out over an extended coda of drums, bass and mellow synth. A lo-fi loop crossfades into the mix and the song stumbles to a halt. This album contains countless moments of transcendent beauty musically and lyrically and is a richly rewarding experience. Guests contribute vibes, one-note flute and brittle, tarnished trumpet amongst other things. Sutton's mellow guitar work and hushed vocals are exquisite, Ling maintains a steady, deep bass presence. Mark Simnett's jazz-inflected drumming is impressive, again begging comparisons to Lee Harris' work with Talk Talk. Daniel Gish colours the songs with subtle and tasteful keyboard work. 'Fingerspit' is, by turns, subdued and turbulent and sounds like a group exorcism. 'Eyes and Smiles' is a personal favourite that shifts through numerous stages of tension and release to a climactic, rousing finale with Sutton screaming "You've gotta go on". There is hope after all. 'Pendulum Man' closes the album in ambient fashion with clockwork guitars interlocking, stratospheric synths passing overhead and deep, ringing reverbed guitar lulling you into an absolutely euphoric peace of mind over nine and a half minutes. A wondrous masterpiece.
