The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hi,

I listened to the previews, or better said the for listenings, of the new CD.
I must say is played perfect, arranged beautiful, typical Hank's sound.
But...........it is more of the same of what we know, just the tunes are different.
We know his sound, his equipment, the perfect backings, but I miss the vivacity, the spirit, the inspiration and above all "IT".

Sorry, if I hurt some of your feelings, but I think it is a missed change to reinventing himself as he did many times before.

I wonder if I'm the only one who feels like this.

Regards,
Emiel

You're not alone, Emiel .. sadly, I agree with you. Maybe it is for others, and to each his own, but for me the old 'magic' is just not there. It's all very precise and carefully put together, but it just doesn't excite me.

I recently watched some videos on YouTube of the Bedfordale Music Extravaganza in Perth featuring Gary Taylor (of TVS3 fame) and Adam Van Der Brugghen. They played quite a lot of Shadows' tracks plus a few new numbers (of '60s origin) played in the 'Shadows' style with the clever use of harmonics and other variations to the main theme. It just goes to prove that guitar instrumentals can still 'excite', it just needs a fresh approach and some original input. As it so happens, Gary Taylor was actually involved in the production of Hank's new CD, but I am not hearing his influence on it.

Cheers,

Ian

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your response.

The problem, I think is, that computer techniques and the programs make it possible to correct all the mistakes.
I experienced that last year when I recorded with my band in a studio. I'm not a great player, so I made some mistakes like timing etc. The engineer wanted to correct it just by pointing the mouse on the screen and move the note. I disagreed because, that was how I played it and I didn't want to be corrected by the techniques.
That is what happens today. In the old days mistakes where accepted because there was no more time to record again or because of the costs. Examples are Kontiki, Man Of Mystery etc.
But, perhaps I'm very old fashioned....

Regards,
Emiel

You're spot on - on modern records whole sections of tracks seem to be just dropped in again creating exact repeats of choruses etc - sometimes interminably so. The old records were often slightly different when the second chorus came around and that added to the experience.

Here we go again....fans in a time warp wanting to hear Gonzales or The Savage in a different key....there used to be a time when people appreciated the time and effort that went into making an album. This is Statler and Waldorf stuff....

Well I can't speak for others but as I believe I may have said elsewhere, what I want is to experience again the thrill I got on hearing Wonderful Land, Atlantis etc., for the first time, and I know I'm not going to get it from this collection of tired old recycled songs. Why is it even allowed to be called a 'new' album when there's only one new track on it?

The short Peter Gunn/BEW video on Hank's Facebook is quite exciting though I think? Is it part of a TV ad? Should encourage sales if it is.

I,m with you Gary Alen,its a new album by the man,I,ve ordered mine on red vynyl by the way,might be lucky enough to get a signed photo if its in the first five hundred issued,this is a great site by the way,cheers.

No doubt the record company want to play safe and stick to the old tried and tested formula! Over past few days Ive been listening to the Local Heroes CDs - ok some old Shads tracks on there but many originals and each of the tracks has a fresh sound. Always wondered why Hank couldn't do something like that?