The Maria Dimension (Legendary Pink Dots)

devout agnostic <MCIUL@ACC.HAVERFORD.EDU>

Hmm. I remember thinking it was kind of flat when I first got it.
But it grows on you... the songs are repetetive and have long sections
where not much seems to happen, but actually, things _are_ happening.
I felt like I was seeing more layers on later listening. Songs like
"disturbance" and "evolution" and "the grain kings" are _great_ for
jamming, as was demonstrated at the concert I saw.

I must confess, however, that some of my favorite tracks were the
extra ones on the CD (not the bonus CD- is there anywhere else those
tracks are available?). Especially "home"- great new-age (isn't the
best new age music always by non-new age musicians?) and "crushed
velvet" which is beyond compare. I really like songs that change, and
I like both sections of it. The percussion sounds are especially
cool- splattering and clattering all over the place...

-Mike

Alan Ezust

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this album: there are some
brilliant ideas in it, but many songs are ruined by the repetative choruses
(chori?), and some of the other songs seem like they were products of a very
rushed creative process. Anyway, here's a blow-by-blow on some of the songs
which stick in my head:

Disturbance: Sounds very much like a Coil song Aqua Regis (Scatology).
Aside from that, no major impressions, except that I like the Coil song
better.

Pennies for Heaven: A BEAUTIFUL song until the chorus starts getting
repeated over and over and over and over. God, I wish I could
permanently fade out the song on my actual CD instead of doing it
manually every time.

Third Secret: This one is also brilliant, until the chorus starts to
repeat. The melody in this one is considerably more original and
interesting than most of the other songs on this album.

Grain Kings: This is one of my favorite tracks, with a wonderful
instrumental for the second half of the song. The guitar solo blends
with the heavy and trippy synths so well, and it's just wonderful thing.

The first minute of the song which is also instrumental sounds like an
almost totally different songs with very minor chords, and then it shifts
into something totally different. I sometimes wonder what would happen if
the intro was expanded into a song all by itself...

Ocean Crued Blue Murder, Lilith: Well, they're ballads...

Belladonna: The melody meanders and seems to go nowhere. I have a feeling
that nobody really thought very much about the melody but just tried to
fit something to the words, which are as usual quite brilliant.

Home: Like Mike Ciul, I agree that this is one of the prettiest new-agey
songs I've heard (and for about 2 years, from 86 to 87, I was listening
to practically nothing *BUT* new age, so I should know!)

A Space Between: Uninspiring musically, with too many repeated choruses...
ARGH!

Evolution: No lyrics, just speech. No melody, just textures and sound
effects. The eastern instruments give it a very ethnic tinge, but it
hasn't grabbed me yet.

4th Secret: I really like this one, another instrumental track with really
cool atmospheric sounds....

Cheraderama: this one took a long time to grow on me, but somehow it just
"clicked" Partly because it makes me think of a relationship I had a while
ago, where we both told each other that we wanted to keep things relaxed,
easy-going, and not too intimate. So we put on masks, raised our emotional
defenses, and proceeded. I wonder if that's what the song is about...
While I didn't like this song at first, I think it's one of my favorites
now.

Ptolemaic Terrascope Issue 7 September 1991

Phil McMullen, Editor
THE PTOLEMAIC TERRASCOPE
37 Sandridge Road
Melksham
Wiltshire SN12 7BQ
England

http:/www.mit.edu:8001/people/jonb/pt

E-mail:philmcm@dircon.co.uk

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS - THE MARIA DIMENSION

Umpteenth slab from Britain's finest forgotten teen combo. After a brace
of neglected works, they upped sticks and headed for more appreciative
audiences sur le Continent - (see article elsewhere) - well, Blighty's
loss it Europe's gain, etc. I reckon if the Dots had had the 'breaks'
they could've been as big as the turgid Cure - you know, Smith's gang of
'weirdness by numbers' merchants, weak songs doused in pedestrian exotica
. Well, group leader Edward Ka-spel and shadowy cohorts are the real McC
oy, captain - they genuinely are out on a limb of their own with a world
perception that is distinctlly skewiff and possessing a collective brain
that can successfully pull off a number of insiduous moves. Even the
'naicer' tracks have a heart of oddness through them.. After a swift
persusal of the 'religious snow scen ornaments with galaxy backdrop'
cover-a rt get an earful of 'Disturbance' whilst gazing at the back
sleeve. Is it a concept album? That cut definitely encapsulates their
craft, dense fathom-deep bass, jews harp (!), X-film electronics, toneless
saxaphones all topped off with Ka-Spel's rather creepy 'Englishman abroad'
tones. Most (if not all) of the tracks here are introspective - once can
hear (good) Eno plus a handful of Seventies 'Kraut Rockers'; but only as
vagu e influences. Listen, if you're into Atmospheric Soundtracks in
search of a film (with goosebumps an optional extra) - look no further.

Reviewer: Steve Prescott

Matt Van Dyke mvandyke@whidbey.net

Rex <richwill@xsite.net>