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31 May, 2006

另人精神為之一振的小島之旅 - Islands

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對於加拿大的音樂,筆者實在認識不多。但要數到最深印象的一隊,
便是來自魁北克區的The Unicorns。2003年的Unicorns,實在帶給一
眾indie樂迷極大的驚喜。他們03的一張專輯《Who Will Cut Our Hair
When We're Gone?》除了成為Pitchfork雜誌當年的top50外,也在
metacritic樂評網站取得超過九分的分數。可見其質素的確被認可。
由2014的光怪陸離,再到Child Star的低沉無奈,都可以見到Unicorns
成員的創作力及技術,是足以感動聽眾的。

好境不常,至少我們都會這樣認為。The Unicorns推出過一張正式專輯後,
便沒有新的唱片推出。在2004年中,Unicorns的一個Live Side-project,
Th' Corn Gangg也活動了好幾個月。而「獨角獸」也終於撐不到2005年。
成員Nick Diamonds及J'aime Tambeur在近乎沒有考慮下,決定另組新樂隊。

Islands就是在毫無準備的情況下成立。而他們更要証明Islands不是為了
意氣之爭或一時衝動而成立的樂隊。一口氣發布了三支曲目,而當中的
"Abominable Snow"就正正與Unicorns的舊曲"Abominable Snowman"遙遙
相應,可見他們一心要超越Unicorns的「一碟功業」。然而,這三支曲目
均不會出現在他們的首張專輯,公開三支曲目只是為了向樂迷展示他們的
製作速度,以及,更重要的,給外界揣測一下這支小島樂隊的音樂風格。

而樂評界普遍認為,他們的製作比起Unicorns更直接,處理上更加線性化。
如果Unicorns喜歡不修邊幅,Islands則是經安排過的一個重組過程。顯而
易見的另一個要點是,Tambeur放棄了其跳躍及結結巴巴的鼓擊,而選擇了
淨化且直接的一種。可見踏實,也是兩位「獨角男」現在希望實踐的原則。

其實,這支樂隊,除了Dimonds及Tambeur外,根本就沒有固定成員。而現
在的成員則有低音結他手Patrice Agbokou、結他手Jim Guthrie,兩位弦
樂手Alex Chow及Sebastian Chow,最特別的,是擁有一位豎笛手,Patrick
Gregoire。
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Islands已把他們的時間表編排得密密麻麻,歐洲巡迴演出亦已如箭在弦。
曾聽過一位加拿大朋友說過一句諺語「All good things come to an end.」
,上周六(28/5),Tambeur決定正式離隊。他說不是因為與隊友的溝通出現
問題,或者音樂的問題。「我實在懷疑我有沒有需要待在一隊上佳樂隊之中
。」Tambeur的離去正正因為他的意志動搖,反而提醒了以Dimonds為首的眾
人更要朝著目標進發。因此,他們的演出沒有除消。而官方網站及Myspace
的地址"IslandsIsForever"也表達了這種意思。

首張專輯,《Return To The Sea》終於在四月推出。沒有與外界的期望
差得很遠,主音Dimonds的唱腔依然。而在穩健精密的編曲配以各種古曲
樂器的網絡下,仍可隱約看見Unicorns的影子。開碟曲"Swans"就以9分鐘
的跳動流轉來帶領各位遊覽這座風光小島。"Don't Call Me Whitney,
Bobby"就體現了他們的紮實而悠揚Freewheeling氣氛。"Where There's A
Will, There's a Whalebone"更大膽用上兩位Rapper的參與。"Volcanoes"
與結尾曲"One"都可以視為Neo-Psychedelia的一種演繹。筆者最喜愛的一曲
"Rough Gem"(收錄此曲,令他們食言),不知不覺地會感染聽過此曲的人。
而有樂評人更說要忘記此曲的唯一方法是把腦子剒開!而曲中的主要樂器則
全用上了弦樂 - 兩支小提琴。畫龍點睛的則有那動畫般的synthesizer。
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改組再改組。Forever很多時也不會真的永遠。希望Horizons給Islands上了寶貴的
一課。筆者更希望Islands不只是加拿大樂圈中的一只小島,繼續創造更好的音樂
去讓別國樂迷了解這個北美國度。

音樂週報Stylus有關Islands的文章[click me!!]
著名樂評人Tim Sendra於Artist Direct撰寫有關Islands的文章[click me!!]
Islands' Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/islandsisforever
Islands' Offical Website: http//www.islandsisforever.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
現在為大家送上上述動聽得如此地步的 - Rough Gem[right click>save as]

13 Comments:

Blogger psychopath said...

你唔講我都唔知J'amine arm arm 離左隊 :(。

return to the sea絕對係我今年鐘意意既大碟之一﹐超愛Swans。

May 31, 2006 5:26 a.m.

 
Blogger 快樂牛郎 said...

佢地隻碟都爬上了加拿大大學電台播放榜首。

May 31, 2006 11:16 a.m.

 
Blogger Noise Kelvin said...

很好的推介 ~
一定要聽聽 ^^

May 31, 2006 9:00 p.m.

 
Blogger 細孖匡 said...

psychopath,,,
哦,你超愛Swans!我覺得隻碟,加加減減後都算唔錯,但係有部份歌實在太實驗性喇!
唔睇你最新篇野都唔知你係女仔...!

牛郎,,,
係牙?你地果邊有呢D野!大學電台播放榜!咁對年輕人黎講,都好有指標性!

kelvin,,,
祝你快D有得聽啦!應該唔會令你失望!

June 01, 2006 12:43 a.m.

 
Blogger 快樂牛郎 said...

咁又唔可以話非常有指標性,因為都係DJ自己選擇播咩歌,最多只可以話知道普遍大學生喜歡聽咩歌。不過由於保護政策同埋節目規定,好多時候唔係加拿大本國既碟係唔可以播超過某一個比例,所以次次頭幾名肯定係本地野。

June 01, 2006 7:30 a.m.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

不好意思,我电脑刚修好,我同意你的看法,所以我才说我不是很感冒,感觉媒体的宣传有点过于夸张了。我已经把你的blog加进友情连接了,我也是个indie rock迷,希望多交流!

June 03, 2006 9:45 p.m.

 
Blogger psychopath said...

對﹐我係女既﹐我真係0甘易呃到人?! ^.^''

June 12, 2006 1:42 p.m.

 
Blogger 細孖匡 said...

牛郎,,,
下?加拿大o係音樂上都有保護政策?香港從來冇話過有,但勁有!咁樣,在於加國本土ge年青人當中,應該都幾多人聽Islands!

e-rock,,,
其實寫呢篇文章前,我黎過你個blog睇過。都係見到你睇過Tim Sendra篇文章。以後多多交流!Nice To Meet You!

Psy.,,,
你係特登扮男仔厄人架?我之前睇你寫野以為你係男仔…加上…Blog界都少女仔玩D…再加上…樂評Blog界就更少女仔玩…所以…

June 16, 2006 7:51 p.m.

 
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