Search - Simon Raymonde :: Blame Someone Else

A magical surprise from Cocteau instrumentalist

10/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was told about this record by a friend who hadn't even heard of Cocteau Twins...I'd known about it, but foolishly imagined it'd be like alot of solo albums from people in great groups...ie not very inspiring...I couldn't have been more wrong. From the opening moments of It's A Family Thing, I was drawn to Raymonde's musicality, and thick vocal harmonies. Track 2 is a beautiful, melancholic piece with Raymonde at piano, called Love Undone, the plaintiff saxophone and sad melody creating a strong mood for the album. Strong on atmosphere, but equally impressive is the songwriting throughout, tracks like 7th Day, and the lyrical Muscle & Want, which starts with the wonderful line..." Maybe, I should have acted like a son, made out of my trouble light, and made hours for you and I ". I read somewhere that Simon's father was the string arranger and writer Ivor Raymonde, who wrote I Only Want To be With You, and arranged all the Walker Bros. hits...well he does a fabulous cover of Scott Walker's It's Raining Today, and with another cover of Television's Days from the Adventure album, shows great taste too in other music. I strongly recommend this record...he has a lovely soft voice that occasionally opens up to reveal emotion and sensuality rare in male vocalists today. I will be following his solo career further from now on."