Everything Ends by Cloudland Blue Quartet
I quickly wrote and recorded these 10 songs almost a year ago now.
I sent the original demos to my good friend Mr Edward Spark, to see what he thought of them.
All of the vocal takes are those I quickly recorded just after writing the lyrics - apart from "Look Up at the Stars" which I had to re-record due to there being just too many errors both in the delivery and the recording.
Anyway, I'm finally releasing them after many mixing sessions to try and get them right. Many flaws remain intact.
And what did Mr Spark say? Well, this...
"OMG "Everything Ends" is an absolute thing of beauty. Want want want want want want want want want. Holy shit I love this. Not so fussed about the choice of beat. Needs to be more 'delicate' I think. Love love love this track. The vocal doesn't need re-done. Sounds perfect to me. To re-do it may spoil that first take beauty.
On the fence about "Tragic Magic" at the moment. The music is top notch, can't make up my mind about the vocal being sung so high.
"The Best Thing" is another CBQ classic. Yup. I'd ditch the 'finger snaps' and perhaps replace with a low, deep mallet sound. Personal preference, that's all. The guitars and strings are a joy.
Oh man "The Limo" is top top notch too. A voice, a piano and a bassline. And then that soft pad towards the end. Perfection. My god, this is the best song based album album you've done in years man
Hmmm not yet too fussed about "I Am Up". I don't think the vocal has the same energy as the music.
"Somebody That's New" is a nice track. I'm intrigued by these orchestral arrangements..
"The Colours..." is another really nice track. Not much needed to take that out of demo. Not even sure the vocal needs re-done, it just needs mixed better to sit in the track a bit better. Top notch... again.
Love the arrangement and chords on "Stars". "We can order some spaghetti..." 😆 love it. Only think the 12345 count on "Stars" seems a bit cheesy.
Not down with "Down", sorry...
Back on track with "Decades" though. Another very very very high quality track there.
That's my initial, first listen, first impression review right there! Overall, it's absolutely fantastic! I NEED to be a part of this project in some way or another!"
Thanks Edwardo! While you didn't get to be involved musically, as I've not really moved that far at all from the demos, you were indeed part of this project as your feedback above was a crucial contribution and your words were central to my decision to finally release these songs into the wild...
Tracklist
| 1. | Everything Ends | 4:10 |
| 2. | The Limousine | 4:02 |
| 3. | Tragic Magic | 4:25 |
| 4. | The Best Thing | 4:09 |
| 5. | Somebody That's New | 3:27 |
| 6. | I Am Up | 4:22 |
| 7. | The Colours Are Collapsing | 3:35 |
| 8. | Look Up at the Stars | 3:53 |
| 9. | Down We Go | 2:44 |
| 10. | Decades | 3:05 |
Credits
Vocals, Guitar, Samples, Field Recordings, Cover ("Cefn Estate Meadow, 14 May 2024") by David Reilly
All songs, including bonus tracks, written by David Reilly
Recorded at Crispycat Studio, Edinburgh, UK, 15, 19, 20 June 2023 (Vocal on "Look Up at the Stars" recorded 8 May 2024).
Mixed 7 March, 2 & 8 May 2024
For best results, please listen on headphones, in the dark
(p) 2024 Crispycat Recordings
(c) David Reilly 2024
Bonuses (c) David Reilly 1988-2024
Produced by David Reilly
Executive Producer : Anne Reilly
Bonus Tracks Exclusive to Downloaders (75:31)
Remix
11: I Am Up (Piano Mix)
Audience Recordings Live at Out of the Bedroom 2024-03-07
12: Decades (originally from "Everything Ends" 2024)
13: The Limousine (originally from "Everything Ends" 2024)
14: Another Happy Day (originally from "Anotherhappyday" 2003)
Audience Recordings Live at Out of the Bedroom 2024-03-21
15: Twenty Twenty Vision (originally from "Ampersand" 2001)
16: The End of Everything (originally from "Ersatzreal" 2007)
17: I Re-Arranged the House (originally from "Anotherhappyday" 2003)
Audience Recordings Live at Out of the Bedroom 2024-04-04
18: Blend (originally from "Soundingfall" 2009)
19: Down to the Beach (originally from the Sombre Reptiles LP "Heavenview" 1988)
20: A Drop in the Ocean (originally from the Sombre Reptiles LP "Liverysilver" 1991)
Audience Recordings Live at Out of the Bedroom 2024-04-18
21: Very Small (originally from "Deeperdown" 2005)
22: Starting to Worry (originally from "Ersatzreal" 2007)
23: The Western Edge (originally from the Sombre Reptiles LP "Liverysilver" 1991)
Audience Recordings Live at Out of the Bedroom 2024-05-02
24: Callingstill (originally from "Callingstill" 1997)
25: A Nice Job in a Small Town (originally from "Doveloveshawk" 1999)
26: If I Fall (originally from "Starlightnight" 2012)
License
All rights reserved.
A quartet in name only, initially influenced by Fripp & Eno's "No Pussyfooting" and The Velvet Underground's debut, songwriter & soundscaper David Reilly started musicking in 1977 by creating drones using sellotape on the keys of his dad's Bontempi Organ. The subsequent junk shop purchases of an electric guitar & fuzzbox and the acquisition of an old Beatles songbook, led him into songwriting...