Anthony Reynolds - A World of Colin Wilson
by Dixie Ernill
published: 9 / 8 / 2012

Label:
Rocket Girl
Format: CD
intro
Difficult and over-demanding experimental record from former Jack front man and solo artist Anthony Reynolds, which sets spoken word monologues from author Colin Wilson to music
Anthony Reynolds is a fine songwriter and has been responsible for some impressive albums over the last couple of decades under a variety of monikers (Jack and Jacques being the most recognized ones, but more recently he has recorded under just Anthony and his own name). Songs like 'Wintercomesummer', 'Cinematic', 'Lolita Elle', 'The Disappointed'and 'Be My Next Ex-Girlfriend' are truly great tracks worthy of many people's top one hundred all time favourites and are readily available on his 'Life's Too Long 1995-2011' compilation, a must for even the most casual of listeners. His new project, however, is a massive departure. In short he admired the work of writer Colin Wilson to such an extend that he travelled to his house in Cornwall a couple of times in 2003/4 to record him discussing some of his works and views on life and over the following eight or nine years put music to these recordings to create a kind of spoken word album. It is only that I am a big fan of Reynolds' work that I have managed to listen to the album in its entirety more than once as I find it a very challenging experience. Bands such as Tindersticks and Spearmint have successfully put narratives to music, but in truth 'A World of Colin Wilson' is in the main a collection of weird noises and samples of Colin Wilson saying things and for me it just doesn't work and may be it's a project too far for the talented songwriter. There are a couple of chinks of light in the shape of 'The Colour and Light Around Me' which starts as a pleasant hum and strum and develops into an early 90's Ibiza come down track, and 'Keats...Shelley...Eliot...' that is also reasonably melodic. Unfortunately, even taking into account the above 2 tracks, I would find it extremely difficult to recommend this album to even the most ardent of Reynolds.
Track Listing:-
1 Why Life Fails Us2 Just Gone Past Dusk (on the Way)
3 Why We Maker Life Difficult on Ourselves
4 Suprised By Joy
5 The Hill
6 New York Ozone Memory
7 Life is All There Is
8 Cornwall
9 The Colour and Light Around Me
10 Keats... Shelley... Elliot
Band Links:-
http://www.anthonyreynolds.net/http://anthonyreynolds.bandcamp.com/
http://www.pledgemusic.com/artists/anthonyreynolds
https://twitter.com/AJFReynolds
Label Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/RocketGirlRecordshttp://www.rocketgirl.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/rocketgirlmusic
interviews |
Interview Part 1 (2011) |
![]() |
In the first part of a two part interview, Pennyblackmusic Bands Night headliner Anthony Reynolds, who will be releasing a double CD retrospective 'Life's Too Long' in April, chats to John Clarkson about his former band Jack's first two albums, 'Pioneer Soundtracks' and 'The Jazz Age' |
Interview Part 2 (2011) |
Interview (2010) |
Interview (2007) |
soundcloud
reviews |
A Painter's Life (2019) |
![]() |
Masterful new studio album from ex-Jack frontman, music biographer and cult solo artist Anthony Reynolds |
Life's Too Long 1995-2011 (2012) |
Bees Dream of Flowers and Your Summer's Meadow Breath (2008) |
Ponies EP (2007) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025John Philip Shenale - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Vapors - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Waeve - Club Academy, Manchester, 18/3/2025
Loft - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Mystery Fix - Life to Life
Leon Bridges - Leon
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Permafrost - The Light Coming Through
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart