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2. Stars (feat. Mark Underdown)
3. Shine (feat. Shaz Sparks)
4. Miracle
5. System Error
6. Smile (feat. Midge Ure)
7. Technicolour (feat. D'Morgan)
8. Together
9. Fade (feat. Cathy Burton)
10. Sapphire
11. Out Of Control
12. You It is always exciting to catch artists at the summits of their careers, such as Smitty in the 90's or Avalon before its group changes. For Andy Hunter, that excitement is abundantly present as Colour, I believe, is the beginning of something extremely promising for the artist. In this explosive album we find his most relevant work to date, but it does not abandon the positivity and glory that saturated his past albums. Indeed, this album encourages me to enjoy God's presence more than anything else... and that is the mark of an amazing album, the ability to reach beyond words and lyrics into the spiritual, the realm where music originated from. Congratulations, Andy Hunter.
What better way to start a Colour-ful album than with a blast of colour? Here we get thrown head-first into the explosion that is "Sound Pollution," which would fit perfectly on a soundtrack to any action flick. A recurring theme we witness on this album is that Hunter taps into the electronic sounds of the moment (see: Kanye West, Britney Spears) and it ends up working well in his favor. Hunter is also keen on small details, as we hear in "Stars," aptly named because it sounds just like stars appearing one after another in the night sky. Every little quirk - every clinking of piano keys, strumming of guitar strings, and projection of guest singer Mark Underdown's voice - enhances the already-rich ambiance. Once again, I am drawn by Hunter's dramatic work.
The next two tracks - "Shine" and "Miracle," leave me expectant for more. The vocals on the former sound similar to choirs of ethereal angels, but alas, the song's production renders it more of a remix than an original track. On "Miracle," Hunter's voice is often flat, and while artists often leave imperfections in their songs to promote relevancy and rawness, here the purpose is unclear. Previous songs display bursts of identity, but this one lacks a cohesive backbone, whether in theme or in production goal (what's with the opera?). But no worries; after a little wrinkle in the fabric of concentrated creativity, the album resumes where it left off.
Halfway through "System Error" I knew it would be a personal favorite. This keeper will remain in my head for a while, especially the random children voices that add to the chaotic, futuristic package. I love it! "Smile" is another one of those advertised highlights of the album, and it does not disappoint. Midge Ure's vocals are a nice means of bringing out the catchiness of the hook, and the background strings are simply captivating. We also have a 70's throwback disco jam ("Technicolour"), the altogether catchy and single-worthy "Together," a Cascada-reminiscent song with a bouncy beat ("Fade"), and "Sapphire," the first non-lyrical track on Colour save for a few angelic "hallelujah"s towards the end. Yet Hunter gives it such a sense of direction that without vocals it does not sound like it lacks anything. Another energy-high highlight is "Out of Control," which really only proves that Hunter really has everything under control with the way the song is expertly orchestrated.
Andy Hunter is an artist I have a lot of respect for, because even with his constant creativity, his work all points to the ultimate Maker. The songs never stop exuding vibrancy and light, and I for one am taken aback at the artistic and spiritual depth of Colour. I even had déjà vu while listening to this album; that's how good it is... it's like a dream come true.
- Clem
Disclaimer: This review is based solely on the opinions of it's reviewer and is rated on how that reviewer enjoyed the content.
