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"Following the resounding success of the film "Saturday Night Fever", Jeff Lynne offers us with "Discovery" his more disco record for a very mixed result."
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2/5
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Electric Light Orchestra's previous album, "Out Of The Blue", was beginning to show some signs of running out of breath even if these signs were attenuated by an abundant production containing its share of catchy tracks. Unfortunately, "Discovery" accentuates the flaws of its predecessor without preserving its qualities.
Who discovers ELO through this album will be surprised to learn that after an experimental then proto-progressive period, the band moved towards an inventive and lush orchestral rock whose quality of the compositions regularly referred to the best hours of the Lennon / McCartney duo. Forgotten the progressive rock, forgotten the orchestral inventions and sleeping the shimmering melodies. At this stage, it is useful to put things back into context. ELO is at the height of its popularity, Jeff Lynne combining a disposition for popular songwriting with a proven sense of business man. At the same time, disco exploded in 1978 following the resounding success of the film "Saturday Night Fever". Jeff Lynne took advantage of this trend and cooked up a disco sauce for his new album which mischievously bore the title "Discovery" (disco very).
The music is felt of this choice probably more dictated by the commercial interest than artistic. Exit the string trio replaced by a multitude of synthesizers. The orchestra is still there but has no other function than to flesh out the compositions, but it can't manage to hide its destitution. 'Shine A Little Love', 'Confusion', 'Last Train To London', 'On The Run' are so many 'glitter and champagne' tracks, dripping with synths, with kitschy choruses full of 'whoo' and 'whizz'. The abusive use of the vocoder, already very present on "Out Of The Blue", ends up making these tracks indigestible. While 'Need Her Love', 'Midnight Blue' and 'Wishing' are more in line with the ELO sound, they lack personality, trapping the listener in marshmallowy slow songs. Only 'Don't Bring Me Down' and above all 'The Diary Of Horace Wimp' are convincing. The first covers a simple theme on a very basic music, but Jeff Lynne's energy and the immediacy of the title make it a nice and euphoric song. The second one, very Beatles, is a mixture of 'I'm The Walrus', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamond' and 'Eleanor Rigby', populated with effects making this song cheerful and original.
Unfortunately, these two tracks are not enough to raise the level of an album that is singularly lacking in interest and that seems quite old-fashioned nowadays. Nevertheless, ELO will continue to surf successfully on the disco wave by writing half of the soundtrack of the movie "Xanadu" in which Olivia Newton-John plays, before coming back with a "Time" in a better mood. An album to be reserved for collectors and dance fans. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Shine A Little Love – 04:43 02. Confusion – 03:42 03. Need Her Love – 05:11 04. The Diary Of Horace Wimp – 04:17 05. Last Train To London – 04:32 06. Midnight Blue – 04:19 07. On The Run – 03:55 08. Wishing – 04:13 09. Don't Bring Me Down – 04:02
LINEUP:
Bev Bevan: Batterie / Percussions Jeff Lynne : Chant / Guitares / Piano, Synthétiseur Kelly Groucutt: Basse / Choeurs Louis Clark: Conduction d'orchestre, Arrangements Richard Tandy: Claviers
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