Valleys Of Neptune - Jimi Hendrix
March 16th 2010 21:59
After the successful re-release of Elvis singles and Beatles albums over the last couple of years it seems 2010 is the year of Hendrix. With plans to re-release digitally enhanced copies of his official albums later this year we have first been treated to some new tracks. Recorded for the most part from studio warm ups laid down after the recording of “Electric Ladyland”, “Valleys of Neptune” gives us a mixture of new tracks and new versions of old songs.
Had this been a 40th anniversary re-issue we would no doubt be marking it as a dip in Hendrix’s high standard of quality. However it isn’t a re-issue and, what may have been detrimental then, works in its favour now. It is Jimi sounding as Jimi should.
There is certainly little in the way of brevity on the album. The 12 songs clock in at over an hour with 4 over the 6 minute mark. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as the songs stand up to the task. Sadly, of the 4 songs that go over the 6 minute mark, only “Hear My Train Comin” feels like it benefits from the length. The rendition of “Sunshine of Your Love” starts like it has taken a hit of adrenaline but never seems to progress anywhere.
Of the four “new” tracks on the album, “Ships Passing Through The Night” is funky and a worthy addition to the Hendrix catalogue. “Lullaby For The Summer” is a cohesive instrumental number whilst “Crying Blue Rain” is the weakest of the four which doesn’t really go anywhere. It is the title track that stands out and is pure Hendrix and is probably the only song that wouldn’t feel out place on any of the original albums.
On the whole though, the album feels authentic. You would be forgiven for thinking this album would be made up of passionless guitar and lazy lyrics but from the opening bars of track one it feels like the Jimi we all know.
The fact is many Hendrix worshippers (of which there are plenty) will have most, if not all, of these songs on bootleg. The question then falls on the quality of the sound which is faultless. There has never been any doubt that the guy could play and that quality comes through in bucket loads.
Whilst no match to any of the original recordings this is still a worthy addition to his catalogue of work. 7.2
Had this been a 40th anniversary re-issue we would no doubt be marking it as a dip in Hendrix’s high standard of quality. However it isn’t a re-issue and, what may have been detrimental then, works in its favour now. It is Jimi sounding as Jimi should.
There is certainly little in the way of brevity on the album. The 12 songs clock in at over an hour with 4 over the 6 minute mark. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as the songs stand up to the task. Sadly, of the 4 songs that go over the 6 minute mark, only “Hear My Train Comin” feels like it benefits from the length. The rendition of “Sunshine of Your Love” starts like it has taken a hit of adrenaline but never seems to progress anywhere.
Of the four “new” tracks on the album, “Ships Passing Through The Night” is funky and a worthy addition to the Hendrix catalogue. “Lullaby For The Summer” is a cohesive instrumental number whilst “Crying Blue Rain” is the weakest of the four which doesn’t really go anywhere. It is the title track that stands out and is pure Hendrix and is probably the only song that wouldn’t feel out place on any of the original albums.
On the whole though, the album feels authentic. You would be forgiven for thinking this album would be made up of passionless guitar and lazy lyrics but from the opening bars of track one it feels like the Jimi we all know.
The fact is many Hendrix worshippers (of which there are plenty) will have most, if not all, of these songs on bootleg. The question then falls on the quality of the sound which is faultless. There has never been any doubt that the guy could play and that quality comes through in bucket loads.
Whilst no match to any of the original recordings this is still a worthy addition to his catalogue of work. 7.2
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