Pale Hands I Loved So Well/Drumming the Beating Heart

pale hands i loved so well/drumming the beating heart

Track Listings
1. Transience Blues
2. Ill Wind Blows
3. One by One
4. Picture the Day
5. Dreaming at Rain
6. Two
7. Veil Like Calm
8. Throw a Shadow
9. Pencil Sketch
10. At Arms Length
11. Lights of April
12. Before You Go
13. Tall and White Nettles
14. Warm Breath, Soft and Slow
15. Blue Distance
16. Sheer Cliffs
17. Falling Leaf/Fading Flower: Goodbye to Summer
18. Lies of Love
19. To Ellen
20. Pale Saints
See all 23 tracks on this disc

Pale Hands I Loved So Well/Drumming the Beating Heart,Eyeless in Gaza,Cherry Red,Experimental,Experimental Rock,Pop,Post-Punk,Rock,Rock/Pop

Pale Hands I Loved So Well/Drumming the Beating Heart
Pale Hands I Loved So Well/Drumming the Beating Heart
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Best Kept Secret in Avant Rock
  • Essential albums unfortunately packaged together
  • Elegy in a country churchyard
 Pale Hands I Loved So Well/Drumming the Beating Heart
Eyeless in Gaza
Manufacturer: Cherry Red UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Hardcore & PunkHardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge
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Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Post-PunkPost-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Experimental RockExperimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000024KWV
Release Date: 1996-03-25

Tracks:

  1. Transience Blues
  2. Ill Wind Blows
  3. One by One
  4. Picture the Day
  5. Dreaming at Rain
  6. Two
  7. Veil Like Calm
  8. Throw a Shadow
  9. Pencil Sketch
  10. At Arms Length
  11. Lights of April
  12. Before You Go
  13. Tall and White Nettles
  14. Warm Breath, Soft and Slow
  15. Blue Distance
  16. Sheer Cliffs
  17. Falling Leaf/Fading Flower: Goodbye to Summer
  18. Lies of Love
  19. To Ellen
  20. Pale Saints
  21. Letters to She
  22. Light Sliding
  23. Big Clipper Ship

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Best Kept Secret in Avant Rock.......2003-12-29

To describe an album such as "Pale Hands...," I'll use the words of the band themselves (describing their 1994 release in a similar vein, "Saw You In Reminding Pictures"): Imaginary soundtracks, soundscapes for the reminding pictures in us." Like Eno, EIG evoke an alien sonic landscape that surrounds the listener; color and shape collides with emotion and memory.
"Blue Distance" -piano in frenzy, with resonant harmonies swooping in from the background (like The Harp of New Albion almost)
"falling leaf/fading flower..." My favorite, it feels like the real melody is never really expressed, but alluded to...tense and austere
"letters to she" Gregorian chant changes into something menacing, as if Hell was opening its gates
Like most great albums, Pale Hands is hard to appreciate right away; it has to grow on you and be absorbed. But it is like clasical music; themes within themes, and counterpoint melodies that surprise, and always another layer, another way of hearing it. It is, I think, the deepest music I have ever heard; it's like they let their soul run pure into this music!
As for Drumming...; it stands on its own. Strong songwriting, beautiful (yet simple) arangements that teem with emotion, and Martyn's powerful vocals all prevail in what is probably their quintessential release. It's also a testament to their instrumental virtuousity (they are so in sync it's like they are one person!). A little less timeless, though; it feels very much like the early eighties post-punk ethos.
My only gripes are the sound quality (they really should have remastered these), and the editing of songs (like "Before You Go" which got it last minute or so cut off). But, both are stellar albums for those into ambient rock experimentation.

4 out of 5 stars Essential albums unfortunately packaged together.......2002-08-25

These albums date back to 1982 and the group has not received almost any mention in the media since the mid-80ies, despite that they are almost as active today as they were back then. These albums mark the essential elements of what characterizes Eyeless In Gaza -- alternative, haunting, personal, emotional, beautiful music that reveals fascinating musicality on behalf of the two musicians. The music sounds "classical", even if it may be pop, as it is hard to label as "80ies music" -- it sounds as fresh today as it did back then.

Cherry Red handled this release rather badly and it is very unfortunate that the improvisational masterpiece 'Pale Hands I Loved So Well' met the fate of being added as a bonus to the Drumming the Beating Heart album. 'Pale Hands I Loved So Well' might be one of the most important albums done in the 80ies and it had very big influences on a long line of bands at that time. --Just like Eyeless In Gaza's 'Saw You in Reminding Pictures' album from 1994 might have had if there would have been a glimmer of support from the music media establishment. Few bands have been as innovative as Eyeless In Gaza (the only other band that comes to mind would be Tuxedomoon) and it is important not only to listen to their limited output of more straight pop tunes (i.e. Back from the Rains). This release shows Eyeless In Gaza at their most creative and in a period of rapid change. The music gets five stars. (There is also a web site with all you need to know about the band.)

3 out of 5 stars Elegy in a country churchyard.......2000-08-09

This CD is a compilation of two 1982 albums, with "Pale hands I loved so well" being something like a rarity which has been released in Norway only. "Drumming.." was produced by John A. Rivers (Dead Can Dance) and transfers the band's prior experimentation into a more controlled, accessible setting. The main feature here are long-stretched, loosely arranged synth sounds which evoke a somewhat painful atmosphere. If you like Anne Clark's '80s songs, then "Transience blues", "One by one", "Two", and "Veil like calm" will appeal to you. Alternately quiet and confrontational, "Drumming.." is quite listenable and rewarding. The tracks of "Pale hands.." are much more difficult and less engaging; the band plays free-associated ambient-instrumentals created by guitar, synth, and non-instruments. There are only faint traces of forward movement and melody, so it ultimately fails to be compelling. Also, the sound quality is not nearly so good as that of EIG's other reissues and leaves much to be desired. There's also a selection of seven tracks on "Voice - The best of EIG", and that's the best way to go for casual fans.

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