For me there is only one track to listen to when crossing the River Tamar – ‘The Lotto Man Cometh’ from the film Waking Ned Devine. The menacing string line builds up and up throughout the track to the climactic arrival of the man from the Lotto. In the real world, whilst I’m not expecting a £7m cheque – the track and the emotion that it creates is the perfect accompaniment when crossing Brunel’s bridge accross the Tamar, which finally linked Plymouth with Cornwall.
Recently I have thrown myself more and more into album reviews as I try and create a name for myself before I graduate. Having been clasically trained I have found it difficult to distance myself from the musical terms which I have been taught to use when describing performances or compositions. I could describe my emotional reponse, but for me music, which is well produced or well performed, takes me on an astral journey.
The first few bars of Pendulum’s ‘Propane Nightmares’ are a prime example. The synthesised trumpets evoke pictures of an empty Victorian house complete with wooden oak floors and french windows leading on to a balcony. The tension lifts as the drums enter the mix and the windows fly open once Rob Swire starts singing.
Obviously we are all affected by music in different ways, but affected we are. It’s one of the reasons that music has had such lasting appeal. All through history certain compositions have united groups of people in times of trouble, caused people to be condemns as heretics or even been banned altogether.
Music is a powerful signifier, mix the various timbres of an orchestra together and you can have people laughing in their seats or cowering behind them. Just listen to the orchestral version of the Snowman if you need  further proof – Howard Blake’s incredibly descriptive composition has made many children cry hysterically as James reaches into his pocket and draw out the scarf or jump up and down in their seat with the thought of making giant footprints in fresh snow.
For today I think I have to leave you with two songs. If you don’t know it, I would wholeheartedly reccomend that you listen to Propane Nightmares and please, tell me where it takes you.
But ultimately I think I’ll have to leave you with The Lucky Elephant – Lucky Elephant. For me it takes me back to driving through the countryside to the sea when I was a kid. If there was a track which sums up the innocent hope of a schoolchild during the summer holidays – this is it! Enjoy!
So what about you – do you have similar repsonses or am I talking rubbish? Please, let me know!
Thanks
Post by Mary Stokes - Meet Me
Located in the UK, music has been part of my life for a long time. I'm a classically trained violinist but have a wide range musical knowledge.
