This is where we Are Marc Atkinson 2006
Reviews by Kathy Powers and David Potter

 Kathy 's View .......

‘This Is Where We Are’ is a beautiful album…. And by the time you drift off to last few moments of the final track that is the word you’ll be using to describe the album too. (Either that…. Or you’ll be asleep! WARNING: The last song is very drifty!!)

But, before we get to the end, let’s start at the beginning:

Although this is labelled as a ‘solo album’ I think Marc will be the first to admit that the other 12 musicians that contribute to CD make this so much more. This CD is by no means ‘acoustic’ either as all but two of the songs have solid grooves and lots of instrumentation. You can certainly hear why this album took four months to make. It’s not the sort of thing that’s been knocked out in an afternoon!

The album opens with I BELIEVE, which is quite an epic track that builds slowly and improves with each listen. Layers of vocals, strumming acoustics, flowing keyboards, crunching guitar, thoughtful lyrics all combine to make a good, solid opener.

Next up I WONT BLOCK OUT THE SUN is one the album’s stand out tracks. A song for Marc’s daughter Enya (who’s voice is actually sampled through out the song), this tune will surprise you as it’s quite unlike anything you’ve heard from Marc or Gabriel before. This almost could be a dance track (and I mean that in a good way) with its heavy, Peter Gabriel style kick drum riding through out the stunning end section. Beautiful keyboards from Iain Jennings and solid bass from Dave Clements along with the grooving drums provided by Rob Swann make this tune impossible not to tap your foot to. Gabriel’s Paul Cusick’s funky guitar work completes the song in such a way that, just when you think it can’t get any bigger, the song picks up even more. Stunning.

The title track THIS IS WHERE WE ARE is a complete contrast. A really slow relaxed groove sets the tone beautifully and when Iain’s bluesy Rhodes piano comes in you just know this is going to be special. It doesn’t disappoint. A very relaxed vocal from Marc invites you into the song and then the melody lifts superbly in the chorus. By the time the hook arrives for the second time you’ll be singing along. I promise you. Again this track is very different from what you might expect from Marc but all the better for it. Excellent.

MONDAY GIRL is more like classic Atkinson (if I could be so bold as to suggest such a thing exists!) in the sense that it’s a catchy, in your face tune that makes you wonder why you’re not hearing it on the radio. A song for Marc’s fiancée and family this is powerful stuff that I’m sure many people will be able to relate too. Top tune.

The album then shifts gear with WHERE WERE YOU? This is a song written from the perspective of the victims of the Asian Tsunami and other tragedies from around the world. The self-reflecting mood of tune is heart breaking and when Paul Cuisck’s evocative guitar solo comes in you just know that you are in the presence of a song you’ll be re-visiting again and again.

SHADOW ON THE MOON is a beautiful vocal and acoustic only piece. The lyric, about catching a reflection of a loved one who has passed away, sees Marc at his most poetic. Ex-Gabriel member Graham Hodge provides his distinctive backing vocals and acoustic guitar style and Iain’s keyboards blend beautifully with Marc’s voice. Truly Haunting.

The album brightens in tone with JUST ANOTHER MELODY. A clever lyric combines with a fluid melody to make a distinctly catchy tune. A great guitar solo from Mark Rowen (now with BREATHING SPACE) rounds the song off perfectly.

Iain Jennings’s keyboard work is to the foreground again for I DO. The ex-MOSTLY AUTUMN member brings a

Bluesy feel to this gorgeous ballad. You don’t really have to be physic to tell that this is song straight from the heart. It’s sung with such passion you certainly get the feeling that it could be appear on a ‘House wife’s choice’ section on some radio station and, when you think about it, that’s a really good thing. Marc getting plays on the radio? Mmmm… that sounds good.

WHEN DREAMS COLLIDE arguably features Marc’s strongest vocal of the album. The warmth of his voice in this song shows how much his grown as a singer over the years, which is quite apt as the song is about a childhood friendship that is now broken. The ‘childhood’ theme continues with 13 year old Kassie Davies (Marc’s step-daughter) providing the haunting ‘Here I stand’ hook, Kassie is joined by Marc’s sister, Janine, who provides her always beautiful backing vocals through out much of the album.

If CLOCKWORK MAN had been written in the 60’s Marc would have probably been a very rich man by now. A very relaxed, almost melancholy tune with a great ‘time’ motif running through the lyric. Nice one.

AMBER IN YOUR EYES starts with a vocal sample (if I’m right it’s from ‘Sex & The City’!) that sets the tone nicely. This tune has a definite whiff of Springsteen’s ‘The Streets of Philadelphia’ about it but you’ll soon forget about that as the song draws you in. A beautiful building end section finishes off the tune is style. Epic.

With SHE LEAVES A LIGHT ON Marc and Iain provide the album with yet another stand out track. A simple piano/vocal song that tells a sad sorry of unrequented love, it’s executed beautifully. With yet another strong vocal from Marc this song is definitely going to be some people’s favourite tune. The song features a lovely, spacious outro that leadings directly into…..

WHIPLASH is very instantly likeable. A short song (at 2.27 it’s the shortest of the album) with quite a dark lyric from Marc, but the chorus is so bright and breezy you don’t really notice until you listen closer. It’s certainly a very tasty song that would probably appeal to a wide number of people and it’s good to hear that Marc is using this tune (along with three others) on a promotion CD and on his MY SPACE website. Let’s hope the CD gets heard by the right people as songs of this class deserve a wider audience.

The album ends beautifully with CONVERSATION DRIES. As I said at the beginning of the review, this is a ‘beautiful’ album ……. (and there I go again. I’ve used the word ‘beautiful’ 11 times in this review! Maybe I’m just a crap journalist and poor at English but that’s the word that pops into my head every time I need a description!) Mark Rowen’s tasty acoustic guitar work introduces another lower registered vocal. The chorus lifts nicely and the chord changes are sublime. Using vocal samples from the ‘Conversation With God’ books the song evolves into a tapestry of colourful sound.  What you think about Marc’s own personal beliefs is down to the individual, but the excerpts he chooses from the books are definitely warm and friendly. The choir of voices that greet us 4 ½ minutes in are achingly beautiful (ahhhh… there’s that word again!) and are sung by a group of obviously very talented singers.

By the time the song fades (and it’s a long, long fade) you do feel like you’ve been on a journey. It’s one I intend to do again and again.

Marc and friends have truly created something they should all be proud off. I do so hope it is appreciated by a larger audience because it certainly deserves to be. But, even if it isn’t, even if it’s just us ‘faithful few’ that listen to his stuff and think, ‘Yeah, I like that’, we’ll still have it and share in been part of an experience called ‘This Is Where We Are’. And for that I’m grateful.

Beautiful.

(Aahhhhhhhhh… there I go again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

 Kathy Powers

July 06

....and Dave's take on it .....

Track 1 I Believe

A dramatic start – some great keyboards. This is a track to listen closely to as so much happens deep beneath the excellent lyrics.

Very modern keys in the centre part takes us to a great change down in pace – slowly building to the crescendo. This is a song not just to listen to but to join in and belt out “I believe” (and more!)

Dave’s verdict ( a great start) – nine out of ten.

Track 2  I won’t block out your sun

“Sssit back and enjoy the ride” he says – no better advice could I give!

Again loads of things happen in this song – not just great vocals and keys with a beat that has you instantly tapping your feet (or your table) - especially as it moves into the dance phase when it becomes impossible to “sit back and enjoy the ride”!

The mix of the guitar and Marc’s doob a dada rocks you as Enya’s “daddy” makes you coo!

Dave’s verdict  a great track to me the song of 2007! nine out of ten

Track 3 This is where we are

A lovely transition into the track which has very stong vocals and equally strong lyrics, I couldn’t help joining in the “this is where we are” backing calls to Marc’s lead. The keyboard back track adds so much depth to the song and when the keys take over you just drift with them.

Dave’s verdict  Nice is a word they say you shouldn’t use in writing – but this is a very nice track. eight out of ten

Track 4 Monday Girl

A story song which brings out Marc’s vocals so well. You have to listen to the verse and sing along with the chorus on this track which has some great changes in pace. When you hear Marc sing this live you will discover just how good this track is and how much feeling Marc has for it

Dave’s verdict  nine out of ten.

Track 5 Where were you

One to really listen to and gulp.

A thought provoking modern history lesson which is so well produced with first class instrumentals.  Marc’s vocals are delivered with such force convincing the listener that he truly believes in the words he is giving us.

Dave’s verdict  Marc at his very best supported by pure talent nine out of ten and probably nine and a half out of ten!

Track 6 Shadow on the moon

The track starts slowly but soon builds because of some fine vocals on both lead and backing supported by excellent music - especially the lovely guitar work. Listen to the beautiful words - they are very special and will hit a chord to anybody who has lost somebody who they deeply love.

Dave’s verdict   listen to it a couple of times before judging it eight and a half out of ten.

Track 7  Just another melody line

The first time I listened to this I thought that the “tag” was too long for the music – but on further plays it isn’t and it cleverly forces you to listen to some very good lyrics. The guitar rock changes an ordinary song into a good one.

Dave’s verdict  seven out of ten

Track 8 I do

A song for lovers – especially two!

Fantastic vocals and lyrics that show off Marc’s brilliance as a wordsmith – and yet Marc also shows how two simple words can be used so cleverly.

Dave’s verdict  It is simple but it is simply beautiful. nine out of ten

Track 9 When dreams collide

Again simple – but very catchy – with a story (worth knowing).

Kassie and Jan’s backing vocals add to this busy rhythmic song.

Dave’s verdict   seven out of ten.

Track 10  Clockwork Man

Lyrics that yet again must be listened to – a song which on fist hearing sounds simple, but in reality is another busy track. After a couple of listens you sing along with it as if you have known it forever. Clever lyrics with a simple keyboard backing and lots more.

Dave’s verdict  a good track worth at least eight out of ten

Track 11 Amber In your eyes

He says “lets slow it” and yep it is worth slowing it – but this is far from a standard ballad.

This song – which I first heard as Marc and an acoustic guitar has developed into something so much bigger and yet it does not allow anything to overtake the brilliant lyrics stunningly delivered by Marc.

It is simple, diverse, modern, catchy and so much more. All this in just about six and a half minutes.

Dave’s verdict  Pure brilliance from Marc! nine out of ten (but nearly 10/10)

Track 12 She leaves a light on

I have had this as my “myspace” song for a few weeks so I know it so well – and although I have heard it every day I don’t tire of it – it is a lovely song with some fine keys enhancing a beautiful performance.

Listen, maybe cry to it but enjoy the excellent story lyrics.

Dave’s verdict  If I was lonely I bet I would give it nine but I am not! eight out of ten

Track 13  Whiplash

It is short but certainly not simple. It is a story put to music that has meaning and depth. It is an obvious track choice to lead into the big finale.

Dave’s verdict seven out of ten which after a few listens becomes seven and a half out of ten.

Track 14  Conversation Dries

The big finish –as we always expect from Marc and his band Gabriel we finish wanting more.

There are many highlights to this track: fantastic guitars; layers and layers of Marc vocals and an incredible drift to fade.

The track is so different to the rest of the album. Like much of the album it has beautifully delivered lyrics really worth listening to – but it goes beyond some of the songs we love from Marc with a different sound (is this where we are?) .

You have to drift away to this song that in reality is far too good to be on an independent label (like other tracks on the cd). In the land of Utopia many people will be listening to and loving this and the rest of This is where we Are.

Dave’s verdict  nine out of ten  for both the song and the album.

I hope this CD is where we are now but where others will be in the near future and the CD becomes the handle which opens the door to release the talent of Marc Atkinson (and friends) to a much wider audience.

Dave 18th July 2006.

York England (and the sun shines on!)