
This is the one release that I was a little late in acquiring.
I remember a local FM station playing 'No Explanation' which was what alerted
me to the fact that the band had a new album but alas, I found it a bit
hard to find. In the end, I ended up buying it at the same time
as 'Heyday', which in hindsight may be part of the reason why
I've never truly embraced it. I was blown away by 'Heyday' and the
direction the band was going in that RL seemed like ancient history. 'Heyday' was still on the turntable when 'Starfish' came out! Needless to say RL had been truly overshadowed and was covered in dust by then.
RL is one the least played Church/Church related releases I play. But strangely,
it contains three of my all-time favourite Church songs-
'Shadow Cabinet', 'No Explantion' and 'Month of Sundays'.
Thank goodness for the 'Hindsight' CD!
The problem IMO with RL is, that apart from the above mentioned songs, the album was/is quite mediocre by Church standards.
Whereas many/most Church albums requires 'study', RL at times seems the band's 'simpleton' release.
Musically, mentally, all-round. Of course not that complexity is a requirement or goal.
It just seems the layering and subtle harmonic play is missing.
Throw in 'Maybe These Boys' and two MWP tracks and we're
talking nearly fifteen minutes of filler. The album's title track,
an instrumental barely makes the grade of 'satisfactory' when
compared to later earlier/later works such as 'Golden Dawn', 'Happy Hunting Ground' or 'Film'. 'Constant in Opal' is an attention-getter as an opening track but, as
with most of the material any 'wonder' that may have been there slowly fades to grey
That aside, as a fellow Womber has previously posted, this is
the album where "they finally got the synths right". Well said.
Yeah, but what happened?
Did "getting the synths right" drain the boys of energy?
IMO most of the material just sits there- the music never gets
up and runs. Hold that thought, and then consider 'Heyday' and 'Seance'.
IMO, RL appears to represent a time when the band hit a low point
in creativity (synths aside), energy and, perhaps interest.
Please forgive me if some of you find me over critical. But all is relevant- everyone and everything waxes and wanes.
The band hit another of these low points a few years later, but that's another topic.
By Church standards I rate this release as a 5 or 6/10.
That being said, ALL church releases are 'must have' items and
RL is no exception.
For those who don't yet own it, I suggest acquiring the compilation CD 'SS/RL/Persia'.
It has extra tracks and all have been re-mastered.
Looking forward to feedback, or flames.
Later, Fraulein.
