Barry Adamson: The King Of Nothing Hill : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

With a resume that spans some twenty-five years and includes tenure with Magazine and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds, plus scores for films by such idiosyncratic directors as David Lynch and Derek Jarman, producer/multi-instrumentalist Barry Adamson has cultivated a mastery of ambient mood swings and compelling story-telling. "Cinematic Soul" sets the tone for Adamson's latest, ten tracks that play out like a joint venture between Shaft and David Bowie's Thin White Duke. Funky grooves animate arty sound collages; jazzy interludes (notably "The Second Stain") are elegantly pensive and lighthearted outbursts are playful and wry. "Black Amour" combines a wicked pun with a sly homage to Barry White. Throughout, Adamson and his ensemble deftly balance subtle electronic effects with alluring organic playing. "Cold Comfort" closes the album with a melange of wistful vocals, sweet strings, keyboards and the ticking of a drum machine. A lovely, inconclusive ending that yearns for a sequel.

SANDY MASUO
(September 3, 2002)