Spy Glass Blue – Loud as Feathers

Description

Loud as Feathers is the sophomore full-length album by the American alternative rock band Spy Glass Blue featuring Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few fame, released on Accidental Sirens in 2001. The album was recorded by Kristian Rosentrater with band member Allan Aguirre producing. Mixed by Aguirre.

There are certain bands or artists that if nothing else cannot be accused of following the pack or the latest trend. In the case of Allan Aguirre and the latest release from his band Spy Glass Blue, this is a good thing. Full of inventive tunes and intelligent lyrical content, this is an extremely good album. When it seems that every other act around is doing either rap core or being the newest boy or girl band, this album is a light in the darkness. Although it has elements of both Punk and Goth, remember we are talking about the leader of The Scatered Few here, this project stands on its own aside from any genre attachments that some might try to put on it.

Joining Aguirre on this musical journey are: River Tunnel on various basses, Kristian Rosentrater on percussion and Kane Kelly on guitar. Aguirre handles the vocals as well as contributing work on keyboards, guitar and percussion. He wrote nine of the ten songs present as well as producing, arranging and mixing the album. I tend to think that my favorite cut on the album is a very hypnotic tune called «The Dreaming». Check out these lyrics: “I stand a top suspended the morning dew upon my shoes/ While perched on high ascended the sky below a crimson hue/ And as the heights continue a Caspian air enwraps me through/ Now as I stand suspended my open eyes encounter you/ What can I do?” Or these from the song «Ophelia»: “Voices as loud as feathers Soft as a raging sea/ Eyes the color of missing you Sometimes it threatens me/ And the scenery is begging me to give it some life.”

Over all this is an album that I would recommend to anyone who has an adventurous spirit musically. [Chris MacIntosh aka Grandfather Rock, The Phantom Tollbooth, 6/2/2002]

Just when you thought Allan Aguirre was gone, he comes back with not only two new CDs (this and Scaterd Few’s ‘Omega No. 5’), but a new label, Accidental Sirens. But let’s discuss SGB.

‘Loud as Feathers’ has more “hook” than the previous ‘Shadows’, with more of a space-rock vibe. Where ‘Shadows’ leaned towards his Peter Murphy influence, this album also brings in some Bowie-esque pop sensibilities. Good examples here would be «Light Machine», with its driving beat, «Turn and Remember», and «Ophelia». Towards the artsy side there is «The Dreaming», with its meandering piano, the worshipful «Morning Star», the haunting «Everything», and «Song for My Children», with its soul-baring poetry and tentative vocals.

Overall, a very mature release both lyrically and musically. A must for fans of art-pop. I’ve seen far more appealing artwork, but don’t let that keep you from this gem! [Don Hill, Cornerstone Magazine, Vol. 31, Iss. 123]

CD tracklist:

01. Light Machine
02. Turn And Remember
03. Because Of You
04. The Dreaming
05. Morning Star
06. Everything
07. Ophelia
08. (Looks Like) We Made It
09. Song For My Children
10. And I Go

[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”s0iyLanKDEw,5i_7xXQYZeQ,YHPS94xNMP8,8HH-JHkiuWA,SZxyOBteD5E,VMzwhlNJ8fg,OZrl5mwI3t4,yVVcIKmrLqQ,9mREr8Vjy98,Rlh-ii_WXAw” title=”Spy Glass Blue, Loud as Feathers – Light Machine + Turn And Remember + Because Of You + The Dreaming + Morning Star + Everything + Ophelia + (Looks Like) We Made It + Song For My Children + And I Go” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]

[youtube_sc url=”H5IyOL0jDQY” title=”Spy Glass Blüe – (Looks Like) We Made It (2023 Remaster)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]