“My followers weren’t concerned with punk,” Harley advised Basic Rock . “The Intercourse Pistols… I used to be 5 years too outdated to dig that, why ought to I fake to dig it? It wasn’t geared toward me. I wasn’t a punk, I wasn’t going to leap on any bandwagon, I wasn’t even going to fake that it had any benefit to it.
“It was a social phenomenon, it wasn’t music. It didn’t take the place of music, did it? So… it got here and it went. It allowed lots of people with exceedingly restricted capacity to get on the telly. I couldn’t actually care much less, to be trustworthy.”
Each week, Album of the Week Membership listens to and discusses the album in query, votes on how good it’s, and publishes our findings, with the intention of giving individuals dependable opinions and the broader rock neighborhood the prospect to contribute.
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Different albums launched in January 1976
Need – Bob Dylan
Frampton Comes Alive! – Peter Frampton
Coney Island Child – Lou Reed
Station to Station – David Bowie
Futuristic Dragon – T.Rex
Run with the Pack – Unhealthy Firm
Look into the Future – Journey
Born to Die – Grand Funk Railroad
How Dare You! – 10cc
Internal Worlds – Mahavishnu Orchestra
Native Sons – Loggins and Messina
Sandman – Harry Nilsson
To the Hilt – Golden Earring
What they stated…
“Steve Harley adopted up the formidable fusion of pop and artsy glam rock he perfected on The Greatest Years of Our Lives with this much more formidable and artsy outing. Sadly, Timeless Flight neglects the robust pop hooks that made the previous so interesting. A lot of the album finds Harley getting slowed down in intentionally impenetrable wordplay (Black or White (And Step on It) ) and songs that, regardless of slick preparations, are slightly hookless automobiles for the verbose lyrics (Do not Go, Do not Cry ). (AllMusic )
“Harley virtually appears intent on sheer hooklessness, avoiding any of the trademark oddball hooks that made him attention-grabbing within the first place – maybe he thought these had been too gimmicky and that glam was too juvenile – now he is grownup and making mature music for severe consideration. But when there is a recipe for a previously thrilling artist slipping into menopausal boredom, that might be it.” (Alltime Information )
“Having already established himself as a serious rock innovator in Europe and a rising cult determine within the States, Harley now reaches out to know the massive rock market through his new LP. Harley’s method is exclusive sufficient to earn Cockney Insurgent recognition as David Bowie’s favorite band. Harley’s coarsely narrative vocal method lends credibility to his deeply imaginative lyrics. Although all the album will delight FM listeners with style. AM programmers shouldn’t overlook Every thing Modifications and Do not Go. Do not Cry . (Cashbox )
What you stated…
Mike Canoe: Possibly I nonetheless have Zinc Alloy Timeless Flight has greater than a bit in widespread with our latest T. Rex choose, beginning with the naming type of *man’s title* & *band’s title.* It is vital to them that you already know Steve Harley (or Marc Bolan) is the star right here (You do not see anybody else’s face on the album covers, do you?) even when the album is introduced as a band work.
It additionally has the equally beautiful background vocals and plumped up instrumentation of Zinc Alloy … Timeless Flight arguably additionally shares widespread floor with artwork rock like Roxy Music or Be Bop Deluxe, the place pastoral passages can out of the blue yield to futuristic, fantastical solos. Present favourites are Perceive , Nothing Is Sacred , and Do not Go, Do not Cry however that is one I will maintain listening to.
Alex Hayes : For me, Timeless Flight by Steve Harley & Cockney Insurgent joins different Membership picks like Angel’s debut and Solo In Soho by Phil Lynott
My earlier data of Cockney Insurgent’s oeuvre begins and ends with that music. I’ll say that I’ve at all times been a fairly large fan of it, although. It is blessed with nice vibes (lyrics however), and is ideal background music to accompany an honest night time out within the pub. Timeless Flight additionally has a pleasing, stress-free ambiance working by means of its grooves. It is an especially laid-back album.], one which carries greater than a bit little bit of a whiff of the baking scorching summer time of ’76 about it, one thing that was later acknowledged by Steve Harley himself in interviews.
It is not an album that I’d personally affiliate with traditional rock, though that is not an issue in and of itself. Though that is music that’s outdoors my common wheelhouse, I did get some enjoyment out of it. One factor that I’ll say about Timeless Flight is that it is an album that originally appears to supply respectable lyrical perception, however, on additional inspection, fails to ship convincingly in that regard. There’s an excessive amount of intelligent wordplay right here that not often truly pays off for me. Crimson Is A Imply, Imply Color is an anti-communism music apparently? Effectively, okay then, should you say so.
It is nonetheless a fairly good monitor, although, and Perceive is even higher, undoubtedly the spotlight of the album. Timeless Flight could drag on a bit in locations, however this can be a respectable assortment of songs all advised. 6/10.
Karl Gibson It is not traditional, it isn’t rock, has no ‘hits’ and isn’t on a par with Human Menagerie or Greatest Years of Our Lives however, I too price Timeless Flight amongst Steve Harley and Cockney Insurgent’s greatest work, with a particular point out to the contributions of Jim Cregan and Duncan Mackay . There are a few weaker tracks on aspect two however aspect one is unquestionably price a pay attention, particularly Perceive .
David Woods
John Davidson: Steve Harley was a type of artists within the 70s that was at all times being talked about however after I suppose again I can solely bear in mind the hit single Make Me Smile which was launched on the album earlier than this.
A bit glam, a bit art-pop, extra geared toward grown-ups than Bolan, Slade or Suzi Quatro however not as fashionable as Elton John or David Bowie . Timeless Flight sees him abandon the up-tempo crowd pleasers of The Greatest Years of Our Lives in favour of a laid-back temper that neither rocks nor pops.
The lyrics are as quirky and attention-grabbing as ever and Harley’s Bowie(ish) vocal supply stays the principle draw, however the music whereas properly performed and produced does not encourage repeat listenings. Very similar to Bolan’s Zinc Alloy , this is not consultant of the artists at their greatest and I would not suggest it as an entry level.
Gary Claydon : Little bit of a sluggish burn is Timeless Flight . An album that undoubtedly takes just a few listens to essentially get into. Not that I ever did. Get into it, that’s. I preferred (and acquired) the early Cockney Insurgent singles Judy Teen and Mister Mushy . They’d a sound and the band a picture that flitted across the avant-garde edges of the glam scene. Intelligent songwriting coupled with Harley’s distinctive Bowie-esque vocals gave them an interesting quirkiness. I admit, it was someday later, possibly my late 20s, earlier than I acquired round to digging deeper into their catalogue. My curiosity waned fairly rapidly after the primary couple of albums, although.
As for Timeless Flight , it noticed a extra laid-back method than the sooner stuff. So laid-back that it is virtually soporific at occasions. It has its moments. Nonetheless, the most effective tracks wasn’t on the unique album. Throw Your Soul Down Right here was a single b-side and is a bonus monitor on the CD model that basically deserved to be included the primary time round. Harley was at all times a considerate and attention-grabbing songwriter and Timeless Flight is price taking a little bit of time over. Finally, although, it does not actually seize me.
R.I.P. Steve Harley.
Greg Schwepe: As is the case about half the time, I don’t know and have by no means heard of a specific week’s album choice, as a result of we intention for… not the plain! It may need been one thing fashionable (or not!) within the UK, however by no means heard in any respect within the rock’n’roll capital I dwell in referred to as the “Midwest USA.” And such is the case of Steve Harley and Cockney Insurgent’s Timeless Flight . Sadly, I had seen notes about Steve Harley’s passing on numerous music websites I comply with, and we appear to at all times honour the passing of a fallen musician by reviewing one in every of their albums shortly thereafter.
The good factor about not being aware of a specific album for an artist is that you haven’t any thought if that is “the album everybody likes as a result of it’s out of the norm” or “the album everybody hates as a result of it’s out of the norm.” You may pay attention objectively and kind your personal opinion with none baggage of understanding the remainder of their catalogue.
After the quirky, out-of-context “virtually made me bail within the first 20 seconds” intro of Crimson Is a Imply, Imply Color , I immediately fell into one thing that basically me. Cherished the vocals, the guitar, the keyboards, the lyrics. All the time vital initially of an album!
An pleasant first monitor led me to White White Dove , then Perceive , which ended up being my favorite music on the album. Every successive music saved my curiosity. I then realized though I knew nothing about Steve Harley, I used to be encountering “unfamiliarity sprinkled with familiarity” (and there’s the banner line for the net evaluate!).
The extra I listened I heard bits and items of artists who I’m very aware of. Heard a bit Al Stewart. Some Ian Hunter/Mott. Possibly some Bowie. And even Mark Knopfler and Dickey Betts. And is there additionally one thing that appeared like Crowded Home? That form of laidback acoustic vibe made for a really nice shock. Listened a second time after the primary.
Total, this was not an enormous “what have I been lacking?” second, however this album acquired saved to my Favorites and explored a bit extra of the Steve Harley catalogue. 8 out of 10 for me on one other good discover.
Brett Deighton: I’m at all times excited when an album goes up that I don’t personal. On this case I feel I do know why. Simply not in my wheelhouse, I assume. Undoubtedly some attention-grabbing preparations and I did take pleasure in these vocal harmonies on Crimson Is A Imply, Imply Color . Perceive is attention-grabbing too with the piano and a few fairly cool sounds. Total I simply couldn’t get into this one and at simply forty-odd minutes it was over earlier than I knew it. Not going to be one in every of my increased scores, however glad I gave it a pay attention.
Hai Kixmiller : A moist, stormy, Sunday night. My first try at listening to Timeless Flight was undoubtedly a crash-and-burn state of affairs. Paraphrasing Julio; [This is] unhealthy. [This is] so unhealthy. [It] ought to be in detention. (Simple Cash , 1983)
Monday afternoon I made a decision to offer it a second listening. This time I concerned alcohol. The album appeared to sound extra interesting this time. I form of pushed the vocals and lyrics to the again of my thoughts and targeted on the music. It was truly form of pleasant.
The guitar solo in Crimson Is A Imply, Imply Color seems like there’s some backwards masking or reverse-delay results happening. Very cool. This deserves a repeat pay attention and a libation in its honour. White White Dove is available in with a severe funky groove and I get vibes of Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of the band Stylish. The refrain half strays a bit for me however the guitar solo on the finish has me nodding my head in approval. A few repeat listens and one other libation is so as.
I am beginning to go to sleep because the piano for Perceive begins to ring out its fairly melody. For some cause the lyric “been enjoying cat and mouse now for too lengthy” actually caught my unconscious’s consideration, and might be the explanation why, at across the 3:15 time stamp (when these chirping form of notes begin being performed by the synthesizer), I get this concept that this music seems like Captain & Tennille making a porn soundtrack. Yep, think about Muskrat Susie and Muskrat Sam with their very own OnlyFans web page. I laughed and questioned aloud, what the hell is flawed with me? Undoubtedly want extra libations.
That is beginning to get good. The music of All Males Are Hungry hits me like a Keanu… that is Hawaiian for a cool breeze. The gorgeous melody is sort of a informal stroll by means of a protracted, misplaced, blissful, rose-coloured reminiscence. I replayed this one about half a dozen occasions. The one different music that caught my consideration was Nothing Is Sacred, the acoustic flamenco/Spanish type guitar enjoying was a enjoyable pay attention. A number of repeats of this one as properly.
The musical type of this album is simply everywhere. Rock guitar, funk guitar, Spanish guitar, Piano, synthesizer, harpsichord, it is all right here and it is all combined collectively and coalesced with a singular vocal type. Timeless Flight is a charcuterie board of pleasant music. It has all types of flavours, textures and surprises. However you are gonna need to wish to take heed to it. This one is unquestionably not gonna bounce out at you. Oh… and should you do not prefer it on the primary pay attention, attempt having a libation whereas listening to it. Comfortable listening, and cheers.
Last rating: 6.76 (43 votes solid, complete rating 291)
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