So I was perusing the net a week ago, just checking up on things, and decided to see if Joe Sumner and the boys of Fiction Plane had finished their new album yet. Their last CD, Left Side of the Brain, was a truly remarkable piece of work and I was looking forward to their follow up. For those not in the know, Joe is the son of Sting and his heritage can be heard in Joe's voice . . . but FP go far beyond that to create a sound and a sense of energy, rhythm and melody that is sorely missed in music today. So I found out that not only had they finished working on their new CD, Sparks, but that it was out in the UK! Of course, not being a fair-weather fan, I ordered it immediately and had it sent from the UK to my place in MI. I expected not to be disappointed (their releases have been getting better and better since their first one, Everything Will Never Be OK) and I wasn't. It's a sweet mix of their signature sound that they've perfected through 3 releases (EWNBOK, their EP Bitter Forces and Lame Race Horses, and Left Side) and some deliciously eclectic detours. All in all, some very adventourous stuff! Plus, I picked up the Deluxe Edition, which included 3 B-Sides. That, and, because I'm a real fan, I also put in to get a copy of another B-Side I was able to download from the FP site. So, all in all, I'm pleasantly grooving to 15 new tracks. Heaven for a collector and for a FP fan.
For those of you who haven't heard them, do yourself a favor and pick up Left Side of the Brain. Then pony up the money to buy the Deluxe Sparks Import (because that's the only way you're gonna get it in the US, if you're in the US, before the Fall . . . and you don't wanna go all Summer without this disc) and then Everything . . .
And please, for the love of all that is holy . . . someone PLEASE tell me where I can get my hands on a CD copy of Bitter Forces? It's been a constant source of frustration . . . as it's also very good.
OK . . . it's late and I need to go slip into a nice coma . . . so enjoy . . . and thank you Joao, for allowing me to spread some new music!!
http://www.fictionplane.com/
