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From the Vault...
07/01/2007
#1053 |
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info
The Dream Academy
"The Dream Academy"
© Warner Bros. Records
Year of Release: 1985
Rating:
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track listing
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Life In A Northern Town
The Edge Of Forever
(Johnny) New Light
In Places On The Run
This World
Bound To Be
Moving On
The Love Parade
The Party
One Dream
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The Dream Academy related sites:
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The Dream Academy
"The Dream Academy"
We travel back to the 1980s this week, specifically 1985, where Pink Floyd
member David Gilmour and Dream Academy member (lead vocalist/guitarist) Nick
Laird-Clowes produced the self-titled The Dream Academy, an England
band. The Dream Academy is best known for one hit, "Life In A Northern
Town," which was featured on their debut album. They did release two more
albums afterward, but did not acclaim the popularity as "Life In A Northern
Town."
Throughout this album, it definitely has a David Gilmour w/ Pink Floyd
atmosphere, and definitely fitting the musical style of the 1980s music.
The Edge Of Forever" relates more to another 1980s act, Tears For Fears.
"(Johnny) New Light" has a David Gilmour vocal style, but what is
interesting is the style of music, that is of another popular 1980s act,
Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine, most notably their hit, "Conga."
"In Places On The Run" has the Gilmour w/Pink Floyd, and has a moody
effect, as in some of the music of Pink Floyd.
"This World" has a definite '80s sound, but kinda boring though, yet
you can't help to get the baton out and twirl to the music. Somehow Nick
Laird-Clowes voice just doesn't seem to fit on the next two songs: "Bound
To Be" just sounds like a bad Duran Duran song, and Laird-Clowes high notes
on "Moving On" -- which makes you WANT to move on to the next song...
The good news is the music sounds good with its 1980s pop ("Bound To Be")
and jazz ("Moving On")
The opening beats of "The Love Parade" has a great solo Sting/jazz
atmosphere.. Again the good news is the music sounds great, but Laird-Clowes'
vocals just doesn't cut it. (Where's Sting when you need him on this particular
song?) "The Party" is anything but.. There is a small Gilmour influence
at its beginning, but as the vocals continue, it's another bad song to listen to.
Yet on a high note, the last track "One Dream" vocal style is a bit
better.
The beginning tracks of the self-titled Dream Academy started out
good, as being compared more to the solo works of David Gilmour and his famous
band Pink Floyd (especially after Roger Waters left). The only problem is that
the music is very compared to other '80s acts as Tears For Fears, Thompson
Twins, Duran Duran, but Nick Laird-Clowes vocals just didn't sound right with
the latest pop/dance 1980s style. "Life In A Northern Town" and a
few songs after that matched more of Gilmour's style, and fitted Laird-Clowes'
voice with the rest of the music, but afterwards, the music was definitely
good to listen to, but the vocals just didn't match.
The Dream Academy released two more albums after their debut, but didn't
accomplish any major hits or continued popularity. Not sure if Gilmour
continued on with this band, but if they stayed with Gilmour/Pink Floyd sound,
maybe those two albums were better, or even worse, if they continued with the
common sound of the late 1980s, then they would not be worth purchasing, if
the songs sounded like those on their debut.
If you enjoy "Life In A Northern Town," it would best just to get
that song alone on a 1980s compilation, and although David Gilmour co-produced
this album, fans just may want to stick with Gilmour's most popular band that
made him famous -- Pink Floyd. Gilmour's most popular solo album was About
Face; his solo albums before and afterwards (like The Dream Academy), did
not get as much praise.
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Warner Bros. Records
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