La musique de la plage (King Of The Beach - Chris Rea)

Member Name: Excelle

Product:	King Of The Beach - Chris Rea
Date:	04/10/01 (166 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Soothing, laid back, top piano and guitar work

Disadvantages: A couple of weaker tracks

If there's one thing I've learnt from my university life (and my good mate Craiggy_Boy), it's that sometimes, you just have to sit back and chill. It's important in life sometimes to just sit back and let it all flow over you, and there's few better ways to do this than to sit down with some mates, some beer, and some quality soothing music. Or, in the talk of my uni house last year, cruise with some bom, and some tunes :) Ok, anyone who doesn't know me is now running at full pelt towards the nearest subcontinent that I don't occupy, but no matter ? we have serious music to discuss!


- Sit back and relax

So, Chris Rea. What do you think of when you hear the name? Well, the majority of people will tell you he's a rocker who's quite handy with a guitar and he did 'Road To Hell'. Which is of course all true, but there's a lot more to Mr Rea than first meets the eye. And this is the album which proves it.

As far as I know, 'King Of The Beach' is somewhat of a departure for Chris ? away from the standard guitar rock we know him for, and towards a much more chilled and sophisticated sound. The album is laid back right from the first ? the cover looks more like something off Café Del Mar than a Rea work ? a white beach curving away around turquoise seas, under a deep blue sky. The inlay is soothing too ? alternating sky blue and pale yellow pages with simple but effect pencil sketches of Chris with his guitar every now and again. The album scores a point in my books by having all the words to the songs, this being one of my loves in great albums ? I like to know exactly what they're saying if I can't work it out! But anyway, these are only minor concerns ? let's get on to the music!


- Let it wash over you like a salty sea of sound

The album consists of 13 tracks, each one with it's own distinct sound and style. There is a lot more use of Hammond org
an and piano on this album, but other than this the majority of the tracks take a rather simple approach to the music ? few layers and a concentration on the music itself rather than the song it fits into. I have to say ? it's very refreshing.

- King Of The Beach
The title track sets the overall mood for the album ? lots of Hammond organ and gentle feel. The organ lends a sort of 'blue sky summers day' feel to the track, while the simple drum beat and gritty guitar brings you down to earth. The song itself is less freeform than some of the other tracks, and serves to break you gently into the album with a 'verse-guitar solo-verse' structure that we all know and love.

- All Summer Long
Starting with a simple (drum machine) beat with a bongo feel to it, it isn't long before the keyboards break in and you're into a song that really represents what this album is all about ? subtle but suitably complex guitar work, which the gentle flow and ebb of keyboards in the background. I get the distinct feeling that this song is about driving along the coast with the wind in your hair, a smooth tune on the radio, and a woman waiting for you. Nice.

- Sail Away
This is a beautifully slow track, starting with a nice piano solo, which is then accompanied by keyboards later on. Chris sounds superb on this track, his voice carries along the tune perfectly. The guitar work is subtle but present on this track (except for the superb solo at the end), but it's the piano that is really the star of the show here. It's a superb track, and I love it.

- Still Beautiful
A little more speedy, but still chilled in the extreme. The guitar is used in a kind of 'echo-effect', in that it mirrors what the piano just played, and it sounds quite brilliant. The subtext of the song is one of proclaimed love for someone, and as well as being sweet, the calm atmosphere of the song lends a kind of unrivalled happin
ess to the tune.

- The Bones Of Angels
May sound quite morbid, but it isn't I can assure you! It sounds more epic that the other tracks on the album, and the deep beats give a more serious feel. I have to admit, this isn't one of my favourite tracks, but it's still great.

- Guitar Street
As you might expect, there's quite a bit of guitar work in this one! Slow and assured, this one is all about the guitar work, which is absolutely superb ? the verses are just there to fit around the master at work on his stringed angel. Absolutely marvellous.

- Who Do You Love
Quite and reserved this one, with a tinge of sadness. The theme of guitar and piano that runs through the album is continued here with a quiet ode to the complexities of love.

- The Memory Of A Good Friend
This has a rather bizarre reggae feel throughout ? kind of feverish in a way, with an overlaid piano melody, which works rather well. The title of the track gives a fairly good picture of the track, but it's the lyrics of this track which shine "Between the lines/ Of an aging face/ Something special/ That you can't replace".

- Sandwriting
I'm sure I've heard a Café Del Mar track that starts like this one! This is a great track ? deep and dark, and definitely different. The concept of the song ? writing your name on the shoreline and letting it get washed away to other places ? is a good one, and the gentle approach of the track draws you right in.

- Tamatave
Woo ? foreign! There's a certain mystique about songs with lines in a foreign language (French in this case). The chorus here goes 'Tamatave je t'entends m'appeler' which means "Tamatave, I hear you calling me". It's sounds wonderful with the crisp piano sound, and the steady vocal style.

- God Gave Me An Angel
Sweeping down on the southern breeze towards the end of the album, this is quite
funky track, but in a laid back way of course! More beautiful piano work again, and certainly an appearance or two of the Hammond organ! Top track.

- Waiting For A Blue Sky
This is one of the best tracks on the album, simply on the strength of the wonderful guitar solos that are in evidence here. It's quite a quirky song overall, but it has a certain flow that can't be ignored. Superb combination of organ, piano, keyboards, and, of course, the classic Rea guitar.

- Mississippi
'Bonus Track' according to the inlay, but it seems more like 'Track 13' to me! Not a bad track at all, especially the chorus, which has a certain uplifting feel to it. Hammond organ used in a more poppy way that usual, but this makes an excellent finish to the album.


- Sur la plage est un bon artiste

Overall, this is a great album ? it has one or two not as strong tracks ? but they're all generally listenable, and the good tracks are VERY good. Chris showing his talent again with some top guitar work, and the general chilled feel of the album is a refreshing change. Great!

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