CD prices are out of control, so when a free CD reveals itself from underneath a stack of bills in your mailbox, you better–as they say–count your lucky stars. This is the exact situation I found myself in a few days ago. The CD I’m referring to is a split EP entitled, “Songs of Hurt and Healing,” with the first three tracks by American Analog Set, and the latter three by White Magic.
American Analog Set’s first track on the Ouch! 5 release is titled “Immaculate Heart.” This song is simply soft, and lovely. While listening to “Immaculate Heart”, my thoughts drifted away from reality. I felt as though I was floating on a cloud, on a not-too-hot, but just right summer’s afternoon. That quickly ended when track 2, “The Postman,” eased me down onto the streets of suburbia. I’m now strolling from house to house, delivering letters of lost love and broken hearts. Though I was no longer in the sky, “The Postman” continues with the feeling of weightlessness as if it were a feather, being manipulated by a soft breeze. “Play Hurt,” the final track by AAS, is a raw ballad of a longing heart. This song features honest lyrics from the mind’s eye, which are overwhelmingly emotional. The pauses between lyrics, allow for the perfect amount of time for one to absorb what AAS is trying to covey. “Play Hurt” ends with the exhaustion of lusting lungs, leaving you wanting more. After listening to these three tracks, I feel the need to familiarize myself with “Promise of Love,” the most recent AAS release.
White Magic’s song “Day” kicks off their contribution to this split EP. Lavish layers of sound from both instruments and vocals are what stand out on this track. Though the sound is nothing less than beautiful, “Day”–running time 6min. 26sec.–is a little long, and surprisingly goes nowhere. The next song, “Twilight”, ran into the same problem. It’s layered with thick, heavenly instrumentation, yet, nine minutes into the song, I was still waiting for the intro to be over. White Magic concludes with a song titled, “Night.” The vocals on this track are reminiscent of a didgeridoo, and the lyrics are unclear. The songs of White Magic–on this EP–reminds me of a soundtrack to a holy movie. Their beautiful and enchanting, yet not something I enjoy listening to.
Rating :American Analog Set- 4 out of 5 starsWhite Magic- 2 out of 5 stars
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