Marc Almond - Tenement Symphony

Colorful, robust, clever and chic

There are like three different flavors int the Marc Almond's discography: when he is totally into dance, when gloomy and depressive, and at his best when is elegant, flamboyant and incredible sofisticated.
This is the case here. Tenement Symphony goes next to Enchanted, and in a different way with both Open all night and Strange Creatures -this two a little less intense in the arrangements, sort of more intimate-; in create an scenario so barroque that it has to be heard fully dress in satin and velvet. the music is full of orchestral sounds, even when rythmicall much of the tone is given by lyrics at the same time poetic, well constructed and profound at certain times and even funny every now and then.
In a way it would be as his own Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, or the 'three pennie opera': in this case, the kind of thing never represented but with the same kind of narrative structure, and full of charachters and moods, that let it be so teathricall
Always appeal me that Marc Almond is not -in fame- the incredible gigantic artist he is -in talent- because anyone who enjoys records like Mclaren's Paris, or even the own Marc's 'somethings gotten hold of heart' should go and reach this amazing cd, if you like complicated orchestrations, and at the same time quite contemporary, full of drama music, this is for you.

I have in my collection everything he is ever made, and maybe this is in my top ten Marc Almond's list. March 19, 2007

Grit and Glitter - Marc Almond's finest hour.

Two of the most distinctive talents of the 80's teamed up to make one of 1991's most overlooked albums. "The Tenement Symphony" found Almond at his cabaret theatrical best, while Horn's heavily synthesized production offered operatic backdrop and the "grit and glitter" of the CD's subtitle. The inescapably danceable "Jacky" is the apex of this pairing; Almond sinks his teeth into the Jacques Brel lyric while Horn cranks up the disco like he did for Frankie Goes To Hollywood and ABC.

Parts of "Tenement Symphony" are a Soft Cell album in everything but name. Old cohort David Ball co-wrote three of the songs here and plays on two. Much of this album's strength is from the kind of Soft Cell vibe it gives off (especially Trevor Horn's production of the final half).

Even more in this album's favor is the way it still hangs together like an old fashioned LP. Had this been a 12-inch slab of vinyl, there would have been a definite A and B side to "The Tenement Symphony," with the conceptualized masterpiece of the title suite being the brilliant second side. Trevor Horn recruited his ex-Buggle Buddy Bruce Wooley to assist on keyboards (and co-write the terrific "What Is Love"), Art Of Noise's Anne Dudley orchestrated the songs and the whole thing holds together like a mini-opera, complete with bridge from Debussy. With the high-powered dance of the aforementioned "Jackie" and the optimistic, beautiful love song, "My Hand On My Heart" that ends it, it stands among Almond's best work. I may be one of the few to suggest it, but I believe "The Tenement Symphony" to be Marc Almond's best album. February 2, 2007

Pinnacle of rock opera of the 1990's

Marc Almond is one of the great stars of rock opera. He presents a combination of the Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears with the Phantom of the Opera, with some fantastic, poetic lyrics cleverly taken from the that wonderful classic Jackie.
Other favorites of mine include the poetry of The Days of Pearly Spencer, the strong Beautiful Brutal Thing and What Is Love
Tenement Symphony , with the Tenement theme presented in The Days of Pearly Spencer presents an interesting idea.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor sung Tenement Funster in the 1974 Queen album Sheer Heart Attack, presenting the Tenement theme in rock, which Marc Almond took up.
Tenement Symphony was the pinnacle of rock opera of the 1990's, right up their with Webber and Rice, and with Queen of the 1970's.
September 5, 2004

Songs of love and many more

Not enough words to praise this masterpiece. As someone has said here, 2 brilliant Ep's. Sometimes you would like the first, plenty of songs about love in a very "Almondesque" way, i.e. something illusory, the greatest feeling that can take you to the highest hights or the lowest low (listen to "Beautiful Brutal Thing" or "Champagne"). The second part ("Tenement Symphony") merges old Almond's cliches: flamenco music, Deutsche Gramophon (one Debussy's "Songs of Billitis", from poems of Pierre Louys), non-stop disco dancing programming (listen to "Jacky", originally "Jacques" by Jacques Brel). But the best comes at the end: "My hand Over my Head". If you've love sombody desperately, this is your song of worship. Thanks Marc for beautiful songs! (Recommended lecture: The Songs of Billits by Pierre Louys, lesbian poems from a fictional ancient harlot). August 14, 2004

2 great EP's on one disc?

Tenement Symphony is one of Almonds top 3 solo albums, but it is also a great soft cell album really, as a few of the songs on the CD were penned with Soft Cell Partner Dave Ball and produced by Dave's side project "The Grid".
The CD though feels like to ep's on one disc,
Tracks 1-5 being one disc
and 6-11 the other. Very beautifully produced by Trevor Horn of Buggles/art of noise fame.
Highlights: Meet Me In My Dreams, Champagne, Jacky, the days of pearly Spencer, and the fantastic Hand Over My Heart. This album has a pet shop boys feel to it large string parts over rhythm machines. Highly Recommended January 3, 2004

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