Azure Blue - Beneath the Hill I Smell the Sea

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 12 / 8 / 2015

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Azure Blue is the solo project for Swedish musician Tobias Isaksson, and this is the final instalment of a fine trio of electro-pop albums that began 4 years ago with 'Rule of Thirds'. Enlisting the help of a host of guess vocalists (including Amanda Mair and Per Magnusson), 'Beneath the Hill I Smell the Sea' is the most ambitious and complete of the three and a perfect finale. Opening track, 'A Town Like Alice', is cut from the same cloth as much of New York band My Favourite’s early material, while the upbeat 'Every Ending Story' has more than a passing resemblance to New Order at their poppiest. Throughout there are hints of forgotten 90’s indie band They Go Boom and more than a subtle nod to Sarah Records, but one of the highlights is the dreamy, dizzying loveliness about missing a loved one that is the classic sounding 'Baby You’re a Star' which would be a clear standout on even the best Clientele album. Back on 'Rule Of Thirds' Azure Blue included a faithful cover of Grant McLennan’s 'Fingers' and in order to even up the homage to the Go-Betweens, a beautiful cover of Robert Forster’s 'Justice' is slipped effortlessly in. The original is pretty laidback, but Azure Blue manages to re-work it into a beautiful post rave comedown song perfect for that Ibizan dawn. The Azure Blue project may have come to an end with this release, but if you are late to the party it’s well worth checking out all three, but start here with 'Beneath the Hill I Smell the Sea', you won’t be disappointed.

Track Listing:-

1 A Town Like Alice (feat. Amanda Ma
2 Every Ending Story (feat. César Vidal
3 Reflections of Light (feat. César Vida
4 There Was a Time (feat. Charly A)
5 Beneath the Hill (feat. The Land Belo
6 Tragedy and Changes (feat. César Vi
7 Baby You Are a Star (feat. The Lan
8 Atlasmuren
9 Justice (feat. César Vidal & Charly A)
10 Sommerlied

Band Links:-

https://twitter.com/azureblueswe
http://azureblue.se/
https://www.facebook.com/azurebluesuedeshoes

Label Links:-

http://fikarecordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fikarecordings
https://twitter.com/fikarecordings
http://www.last.fm/label/Fika+Recordings
https://www.youtube.com/user/fikarecordings

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