df118junkie wrote: ↑Fri 26 Apr 2024, 4:20 am The Secret Of Happiness is fabulous.
There are no tracks to skip.
The album is a cousin of Bilingual.
It's everything that Elysium wasn't.
There needs to be longer/extended versions of some of the tracks.
West End girls (Lockdown Version) turns out to be a road sign to the overall feel.
Hoping there will be a post-release digital deluxe version with the instrumentals.

I’d love if Blademixes gave this the treatment he did for Hotspot. I’ve already used an AI tool to create instrumentals for the album and bsides.

df118junkie wrote: ↑Fri 26 Apr 2024, 4:20 am The Secret Of Happiness is fabulous.
There are no tracks to skip.
The album is a cousin of Bilingual.
It's everything that Elysium wasn't.
There needs to be longer/extended versions of some of the tracks.
West End girls (Lockdown Version) turns out to be a road sign to the overall feel.
Hoping there will be a post-release digital deluxe version with the instrumentals.

The secret of hapiness is beautiful. I think it's my favorite.
A new bohemia makes me think to friendly fire on some parts. The voice of Neil on the album is perfect. Feel is fantastic, they should have put this as a single.

jules wrote: ↑Fri 26 Apr 2024, 4:47 am

df118junkie wrote: ↑Fri 26 Apr 2024, 4:20 am The Secret Of Happiness is fabulous.
There are no tracks to skip.
The album is a cousin of Bilingual.
It's everything that Elysium wasn't.
There needs to be longer/extended versions of some of the tracks.
West End girls (Lockdown Version) turns out to be a road sign to the overall feel.
Hoping there will be a post-release digital deluxe version with the instrumentals.

A new bohemia makes me think to friendly fire on some parts. The voice of Neil on the album is perfect. Feel is fantastic, they should have put this as a single.

A New Bohemia is the next single

It's right after midnight in Chile and I'm listening to the album - AT LAST!
I'm so happy right now

I received the clear vinyl here in Australia.

Odd that there's no sticker on the cover to say it's the clear vinyl edition. I had to open it to double check!

Warner Music Australia still haven't sent out the digital download link!

So, I'm listening on You Tube Music, but I love it!

Album didn't arrive yesterday but enjoyed first listen on Spotify this morning. First standouts are Feel and Why Am I Dancing?

Just listening to the R4 show as I wait for flight to Manchester. O'Leary, don't eff this up!!

First time listen... it's just very beautiful! Almost baroque pop at times. Very nostalgic and bright.
The secret of happiness and A new bohemia are my two favorites so far, absolutely gorgeous songs.
Feel is great and that ending to Love is the law is wow, just wow.
Other previously unheard songs are nice too - there are no weak tracks for me so far, the album is smooth.

Just want to congratulate all the petheads from all over the world.
We are so lucky to still have them after all these years.

Woke up early for my first listen so glad I did. Nonetheless is glorious.

I've never heard them like this where they had such a cohesiveness with songs....the songs were each very different, but the wrapping on them was very on theme and tied all the tracks together.....exotic orchestral arrangements, chimes, swirls and shimmering reverbed romantic 70's sounds.

I dont think I've enjoyed an album as much as this one. the biggest surprise was the secret of happiness....they have touched on sort of easy listening burt bacharach style music in the past with say requiem in denim but never really immersed themselves in it so joyfully.

I give this album a 9/10, I havent had such a immediate love for a whole album in a long time.

The Secret Of Happiness sounds so Bilingual to me (which is one of my fav albums)
I should be sleeping rn, but I'm so in love with the album and, actually, this whole era.
Chapeau, gentlemen!!

Just listened to Nonetheless for the first time. It sounds amazing, great production. Glad that A New Bohemia will be a single. Beautiful song. I find it perplexing that they chose Dancing Star as the second single. I think Why Am I Dancing? or Feel would make better singles.

The postman will deliver my Nonetheless today. So I'm still waiting for my first listening experience.

Excited

I think A new Bohemia is one of the best things they’ve ever written

lucienchardon wrote: ↑Fri 26 Apr 2024, 6:20 am Just listened to Nonetheless for the first time. It sounds amazing, great production. Glad that A New Bohemia will be a single. Beautiful song. I find it perplexing that they chose Dancing Star as the second single. I think Why Am I Dancing? or Feel would make better singles.

Totally agree with all this. Dancing Star is a bit weak for me amongst such a lush album

I had a first listening early in the morning with headphones. And yes the production is really good. The soundscape is Elysiumlike. But. It's basically the same all over the ten tracks. No diversity. God, I miss Bilingual. Hopefully my feeling will change after more listenings. Dancing Star is the strongest track, it has the most of own identity.

And. As we already have discussed. The lyrics are too contrived to the music. There isn't enough space between phrases to release a good melody.

Neil's vocal in Bullet for Narcissus is unfortunately subpar.

Anyway. My benchmark is Bilingual. So many different sounds and approaches and styles but still a coherent sound and great mix of social commentary and love songs bundled together. Hard to match,
What do you say Nickname if I say I agree with you that the melodies aren't as good as those of yesteryear?