Shadows

Description

Shadows is the full-length debut album by the American alternative rock band Spy Glass Blue featuring Allan Aguirre of Scaterd Few fame, released on Pinnacle Records in 1996. Re-issued by Organic Records the following year featuring new cover artwork, manufactured and distributed by Pamplin Music Distribution. The album was recorded April – June 1996 at Studio Vision One in Arlington, Texas; with band member Allan Aguirre producing for Sacrosanct Productions Group. Mixed by Aguirre.

Spy Glass Blue features Allan Aguirre on “all guitars & vocals,” as well as keyboards, percussion, and programming, Kane Kelly on guitar, and River Tunnell on both fretted and fretless bass. Also featuring Kris Rosentrater on drums. Additional guitars provided by John Eargle (tracks: 1, 7, 9) and Mark Lagana (track 12).

Three-piece Spy Glass Blue are really the musical brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Allan Aguirre, who at times seems overly self consciously arty. That quibble aside, ‘Shadows’ betrays a huge early ’80s new romantic influence, Encompassing sounds reminiscent of Fripp. Berlin Bowie and Japan, this is a gorgeous atmospheric delight with a fresh sound. The best example is the amazing enigmatic «Me Mine», full of tense ambience as it explores the complexities of relationships. Awesome! «Can You Feel» is a stream of consciousness expression at the horrors of man’s sin and the compassion of God. Musically «Stygian» in places is reminiscent of «Rock Lobster»! Then it broadens out into this amazing Eastern European sounding classical melody! Completely breathtaking. Lyrically it rails against the spiritual leader whose vision inspired and the bitterness when their own life falls into sin of adultery. Totally arty, extremely creative, this feels more like a mainstream release with lyrics that are poetical and full of metaphor exploring the state of the soul leaving the listener to draw their own conclusions and interpret. Don’t expect any bold statements of faith and if anything the ambiguity contained here is the biggest frustration of the album. However, as a musical poetical experience, this is a stunning passionate moody album. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, February 1998]

CD tracklist:

01. Thin And Leaner
02. Lodging
03. In Sultry Places
04. Can You Feel
05. Me Mine
06. On And On
07. Stygian
08. Iron Grey
09. Ignorant Side
10. Come Patmos
11. Should Have
12. Tell

Note: Re-issued on both cassette and CD by Organic Records.

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Shadows, Organic Records Edition, 1997

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