For their first record since 1989's "Hats", the Blue Nile backgrounded a lot of the synthesizers that drove their classic first two records in favour of accoustic guitar and a bit of piano. I recall finding Peace At Last jarring and unengaging when I first heard it 15 years ago; but revisiting it now it's actually aged remarkably well. (Or maybe you just have to be a certain age to appreciate it.) It does lapse a little too often into either jangliness or affectation or both, which keeps it from achieving transcendance except on the gorgeous "Love Came Down", one of the best sex-as-religion songs ever made.
Bump |
