Schadenfreude Blue
© Copyright-Adam Ritchie
(634479316104)
Record Label: Banana Records
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Location : London, UK.... Song-writer Adam Ritchie switches off the radio. He's heard enough. Or more to the point, he hasn't heard anything. The same old songs to the same old beats, with (ultimately) the same old dance routines. Everything begins to sound...tiresome. VERY tiresome....
Armed with a hatful of songs, Adam decides to do something. The songs have spent enough time sitting in Adam's head. The Classified Adverts are scanned, desperately searching the music papers for THAT advert that says : I'M HERE. But there's nothing. Enough wanna-be Managers though. Makes you wonder who actually makes the money in 'Music Land'....
Switch on the TV. More perfect examples of Media Manipulation. Crass attempts at lurid headlines, designed to keep the 'masses' "On-Message". Adam sighs. The pictures of war, famine, loss, society, even the way people treat each other for Christ's sake, have all left him numb. Acclimatised. Resigned. An ironic schadenfreude moment of self-realisation. But it leaves Adam feeling.....blue. And still the songs are there in Adam's head, itching to get out....
Do something else. Switch on the internet. Divert your attention. Buy a classic DVD, search for THAT vinyl record to complete THAT collection, look for an example of an accountable government. Wait a minute. Best make that a search for the vinyl record or classic DVD. Finding an actual government committed to 'democracy'....?? No chance....
...Ah yes, e-bay. Why not? You can find just about anything there. (Except democracy, of course...) Adam stops for a moment. A thought hits him. What about a mini recording studio?? Do the songs himself!! All other searches are abandoned. Music. Yes. Click. Pro-Audio. Yes. Click. He scrolls down the list. That looks good. That isn't bad. And then suddenly, .... it's there....
"....Spend some time in a 24 track studio". Good price too. THAT CANNOT BE RIGHT. Check the equipment/facilties on offer. THAT STILL CAN'T BE RIGHT. Looks too good to be true. A phone call to the Producer Alex (Henceforth known simply as 'Magic Alex'...), only cements it. He's funny, informed, and articulate, knows his stuff, and is ready to go. The "Buy It Now" button never looked more enticing. Adam affords himself a wry smile; gone, it seems, are the days of finding musical talent in the back of a newspaper. This is, after all, the 21st century....And now the adventure can begin....
One weekend per month. One song per weekend. Bitter-sweet guitar pop music for the soul. Bitter-sweet lyrics for your contemplation. Songs to make you sing along. Songs to make you think... And the album, it could only be..."Schadenfreude Blue"... by..... Ampersand....
Meanwhile, back in 'Music Land', Simon Cowell casts his 'expert' opinion on what the 'masses' should be buying. Adam shakes his head. So that's where the money is going. Time to switch off the TV again....
But at least now there's always "Schadenfreude Blue"...And what about you ???
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Fantastic 60's influenced pop guitar songs for the heart and mind
author: Darren Gavigan
An album of uplifting, yet introspective, guitar music which manages to combine 60's tinged pop with epic riffs, creating a complex combination of songs which touch the heart as well as the mind. Great stuff.
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Top class English indie rock. Think XTC crossed with Kinks.
author: Jonathan Reid
A very English blend of cynicism and fantastic tune-smithing. If you can imagine Death In Vegas jamming with The Kinks with Future Sound Of London adding the atmospherics, then you won't be far away from the Ampersand sound. If you like your rock music with more than a hint of intelligent edge and a total lack of corporate control, you'll love this one. Can't wait to hear what this man produces next. Oh yeah, and the guitar playing's pretty cool als well. BUY IT!!
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Mega-catchy songs and fat guitars, it's Stock, Aitken and Gallagher.
author: The Overplay Team
From radio static, ambient sounds, ghostly footsteps and Bill Hicks, there are more strange, random sounds on this album than an episode of Teletubbies. But while all the weird noises and effects that filter through the ten tracks on 'Schadenfreude Blue' may suggest we're in for an astro-political jazz/trance odyssey, when the London duo actually get to the music they produce swaggering indie anthems, quirky ballads and shiny pop tunes. With mega-catchy songs and fat guitars, this is Stock, Aitken and Gallagher.
Adam Ritchie writes all the songs and plays most of the instruments, while Alex Mahdavi plays the rest of the instruments and manages production. They're both firing on all cylinders from the off as the shuffling baggy groove of "Stand Up (Get Down)" ambles on with the casual charm of classic Stones Roses or Happy Mondays. The beats, synths and "Dear Prudence" guitar refrain gradually ebb out into a hazy 'sixties style acoustic jam with a nice bit of bongos. This sunny start leads to even brighter vibes on "Sometimes Sunday Blue" as West Coast harmonies sit side-by-side with a towering chorus that sounds like a friendlier version of The Clash. Then it's on to the sitars with the sweeping easternised Pink Floyd chords of "It's Me Against The World." Angry title, sweet tune.
It's not all saffron and smiles though. "Playin' In My Head" is a Jem-like concoction of trip hop and handclaps, "Talk2Me" is gloriously glossy '80s pop that makes you wish The Thompson Twins were still going, and "England" is a brooding piano ballad that tells of jaded romance and forgotten ambition. However, the overriding theme of this album is the big-hearted indie strumalong. But, what would stink of stale beer in the hands of Oasis, manages to come alive with genuine warmth at the quirky touch of Ampersand. "Urbania" glows with rolling country campfire goodness and "If The People Don't Matter (It Matters)" ups the ante further with an even bigger chorus and fine harmonies. It's on the title track, though, that Adam and Alex go completely "Hey Jude" with strings, brass and over seven minutes of epic grandness that makes the Lord of the Rings trilogy look like an episode of Masters of the Universe by comparison.
It's a surprise, then, to hear the frenetic, jerky rock of the hidden track. It's fresh and frantic, it should have been on the album proper and it's only matched by the indie looniness of the Julian Cope-esque "Your Perfect Eyes." "The world's on medication" intones Adam on the latter. But if it sounds this much fun, get your prescription now.
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a work of pure genius.
author: issy stephen
Wonderful lyrics and real music. its a joy to listen to, in your car at home, soaking in the bath. absolutely ab
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