Nirvana - The Story Of Simon Simopath (@320)

 

Nirvana - The Story Of Simon Simopath

The Story of Simon Simopath Review by Stewart Mason.

One of the most entertaining things to do on websites that allow customer reviews of CDs is read the apoplectic fury Kurt Cobain's fans have for the original Nirvana, the cultily-adored British psych-pop group from the late '60s. Much of that misguided and ill-informed venom seems to be directed toward this album, Nirvana's 1967 debut. An unashamedly twee early concept album, The Story of Simon Simopath (subtitled "A Science Fiction Pantomime," suitably expressing the deliberately childlike tone of the album) sounds, like most rock concept albums, like a collection of unconnected songs forced together by the story written in the liner notes. Ignoring the rather silly story (something about a boy who wishes he could fly), what's left is a regrettably brief but uniformly solid set of well-constructed psych-pop tunes with attractive melodies and rich, semi-orchestrated arrangements. Although the core of Nirvana was the duo of singer-guitarist Patrick Campbell-Lyons and keyboardist Alex Spyropoulos, the group is here expanded to a sextet including full-time French horn and cello players, and the semi-Baroque arrangements are particularly memorable on the singles "Pentecost Hotel" and "Wings of Love." Although The Story of Simon Simopath has no individual songs as instantly delightful as "Rainbow Chaser," the hit single and key track from their next album All of Us, it's a much more consistent record than that somewhat patchy follow-up.

Tracklist:

1. Wings Of Love - 3:21

2. Lonely Boy - 2:32

3. We Can Help You - 1:59

4. Satellite Jockey - 2:35

5. In The Courtyard Of The Stars - 2:36

6. You Are Just The One - 2:07

7. Pentecost Hotel - 3:08

8. I Never Had A Love Like This Before - 2:51

9. Take This Hand - 2:18

10.1999 - 2:16

11.Wings Of Love - 3:22

12.Lonely Boy - 2:33

13.We Can Help You - 2:07

14.Satellite Jockey - 2:39

15.In The Courtyard Of The Stars - 2:35

16.You Are Just The One - 2:09

17.Pentecost Hotel - 3:13

18.I Never Had A Love Like This Before - 2:50

19.Take This Hand - 2:18

20.1999 - 2:10

21.I Believe In Magic (B-Side To "Tiny Goddess") - 3:25

22.Life Ain't Easy (Previously Unreleased Version) - 3:17

23.Feelin' Shattered (B-Side To "Pentecost Hotel") - 2:22

24.Requiem To John Coltrane (B-Side To "Wings Of Love") - 4:54

All songs written by Patrick Campbell Lyons, Alex Spyropolous

Tracks 1-10 Original Stereo Mix

Tracks 11-20 Original Mono Mix

Bonus Tracks 21-24

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