Masson, Colin - Isle Of Eight

Year of Release: #
Label: 2001
Catalog Number: HDL-505
Format: CD
Total Time: 65:24:00

Firmly rooted in the classical folk tradition Colin Masson (who is also a member of the folk band The Morrigan) has used his multi-instrumental strength and inspiration to spread over three lengthy tracks. The occasional use of recorders certainly highlights the atmosphere of this album. Add to this the typical guitar style and you immediately land yourself in the Mike Oldfield back garden. Although the drums are programmed, they rather sound OK, which doesn't happen a lot in these cases. Colin's acoustic guitar playing, combined with the use of the recorder, certainly creates a medieval feel to the music. After Cathy Alexander's (also from The Morrigan) guest vocal, the title track speeds up, unleashing freaky guitar sounds. Towards the end it's as if Gordon Giltrap steps in to help a hand. In fact I can easily see myself in rural England enjoying a good pint of the local brew and a ploughman's lunch whilst this music keeps me amused.

There's a mixture of Bert Jansch, Gordon Giltrap and John Renbourn to be found in the acoustic intro for "Total Eclipse." Once again the fragile nature of the music is extra underlined by introducing sparse recorders. "Return To The Northern Wasteland" starts with sequencer loops and dark sounds as if thunder and black rainy clouds are packing over the Masson flagship. This Colin Masson solo album sounds as if the best bits out of Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn have been mixed together and spiced up with extra folk elements. Isle of Eight is a nice album that sadly will not sell millions of copies as there will always remain a big gap between Masson and the real Mike Oldfield!

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Tracklisting:
Isle Of Eight (25:32) / Total Eclipse (27:06) / Return To The Northern Wasteland (12:56)

Musicians:
Colin Masson - electric, acoustic, classical guitars, 12-string guitars, bass, recorders, keyboards, percussion, trombone, drum programming
Cathy Alexander - vocals, keyboards
Ryan Masson - random noises

Discography:
Isle Of Eight (2001)

Genre: Progressive Folk

Origin UK

Added: August 31st 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Hits: 2448
Language: english