Classic Albums #2 - Floodland.
Having already wowed Gothic Rock fans with, ‘First and Last and Always’, Andrew Eldritch released, ‘Floodland’ on a wave of expectation in 1987. In many ways the album could not have been more different from its predecessor. However, out of the listeners who eagerly rushed out to buy it, there were certainly no complaints.
‘Floodland’ moved away from a heavy reliance on guitars and lurched off toward a more synthesised and industrial sound. Andrew Eldritch delivered an album that was poetic, powerful and tantalisingly mysterious.
There are no weak tracks on ‘Floodland’ and it is more like one, dark symphony than a collection of songs. Of course, there are the ‘catchy-but-not-too catchy’ singles such as, ‘Lucretia’ with its expertly driven beat and enigmatic lyrics; but these do not stand out too much and lessen the blow of the rest.
This record was to change the whole image of Goth. Until now, Gothic music was more guitar-based, with an almost Punk undercurrent. With ‘Floodland’, Andrew Eldritch had invented a whole new sound.
The production on the album is huge. When you listen to tracks like, ‘This Corrosion’ they almost shine with the amount of polishing they have received. Other songs such as, ‘Driven like the Snow’ and ‘Neverland’ are stark, cold and abstract; but the production is still evident, giving them a crisp and icy feel.
‘Floodland’ is a place of pure, dark and throbbing power. The lyrics can be pondered for hours on end and the imagery they conjure up is magical. It will make you think of night and snow and water and shimmering light. It is probably the first Goth record that ever encouraged anyone to dance. The bass and drums are too insistent to resist and you will soon be hypnotised with Eldritch’s dark and brooding compositions.
—
By the way, I have finally decided to use the money that I got as a Christmas present from Victoria to rent out a cannes villa for this winter. I was playing with the idea of putting it towards the rent, but that didn’t last long!
December 11 2009 05:40 am | General