For All The World is The Black Watch's 25th album and the first one that's a double album. John Andrew Frederick seems to want to expand the band’s sound. The album was recorded in two halves with different producers, the first half at Bullock's studio in Austin with Misha Bullock in the producer's chair assisted by Chandler Frederick, the second half was recorded with Steve Campbell, Rob and Andy Campanella and Scott Campbell.
The double album opens with Mal De Mer a rather low-fi and sparse opening that eventually crashes in fully, with the fuller sound trying to find common beauty among all the poison of modern life.
Surely You Rally has a driving beat and guitars, John encourages us all to show up at the latest protest rally, or are they into motor cross rally's, the fuzzy guitars and steady drumming allow John's vocals to remain above the fray when the music gets a bit more out of it, it's like they are searching for some real purpose and not to just be blessed.
Not For Us has a country pop intro with strings for the malaise we are in, all the despicable things you hear in polite conversation today, the strings add an odd twist to this chamber indie tune looking for impossible answers.
In The Dark has a space rock indie feel, slightly jangly guitar for always pushing forwards and keeping an open mind to new ideas and way of living and playing, this is the first song that jumps out, with a repetitive mutating riff to its end.
The Hook Stuck is a folk song with almost medieval feel for a tale across Europe and through history, for all that went awry, who shall we blame for all this, carefully plucked guitar evoke answers.
Lord Marchpane takes a driving riff to help describe the indescribable Lord Marchpane, you can read through the lyrics to find your own answers for who Lord Marchpane might be, twisted notes of the inquisitor exploring what might be considered fair.
Effective Forthwith it's time to be in a psychedelic haze of treachery and deceit, the answers remain the same, it always rains, stolen visions of Nigel in Napoli guitars softly strafe overhead.
The string section pulse, guitars explode Achilles Past brought to life, the temptations, will your behaviour ever change, can you step out of deaths spiral, bacchanalian interludes, dream sequences.
Fainting is something that you do, is it an escape, or a symptom of life lived precariously, down at heel chiming guitars swooping down, into that place you go when you're fainting.
There's A Place hand drumbeat, finger clicking bucolic springtime emerges, harmonies calling for more change, positive evolution. Much More is there Much More Of This, well yes this is the halfway point, but John hints at a different second half, they've already brought on the Cellist, what's next.
Maybe Tomorrow has a false starting intro to chugging guitars, chanted college alternative rock with a slacker vibe. Mad Cap Girl lives on the fringes of Cambridge in a Barrat's home, slowly deranged meanderings of a fading queen, acoustic Spanish intrusions snapping resplendence of all the Mad Cap behaviour.
The Knife Cliche chamber stringed lush orchestration of all the pain you've wrought with that Knife another back stabbed, another love lost before it began, fling was flung, tomorrow you can dance with whomever you please, the rogues code.
Hope Davis' Face reflects through this tale of feelings, said and unsaid, keyboards evoke the beauty of her face, does that beauty go further than skin deep, a slow rumination on more ruination or relationships permanently wrecked.
Listen You Wait just listen to the fiddle guitars meshed, harmony vocals and you'll want to get away from me too. Bright Blue Sun Blue sky I'm looking out the window drifting away ignoring the music, spring is in full bloom, everything's green and bright.
The Tent Around The Lake have they discovered the body, is it a secret assignation, or just a simple camping trip. Spanish Vamp is self-explanatory for the myopic un-worldly wise coming face to face with the worldly wise and finding the most mythic love of all. All the pain and sorrow you cause, are you seductress or succubus.
If Only feels like things are petering out, the spark has gone, no longer an inspiration, misanthropic bleak delusions, supine begging to be allowed to touch you one last time, no chance, she's had enough of your games.
After over an hour of music, finally John is chanting Early Departure now, it feel rather late, but the sorrow of another friend leaving the party far too early, if only we can all become old, but make sure you carry on without them, but also always carry your ghosts with you for further inspiration.
Find out more at https://ffm.to/achillespast https://theblackwatch.bandcamp.com/track/achilles-past-2 https://www.facebook.com/theblackwatchmusic
