|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
review by Dene Bebbington The cover of this album shows a man jumping for joy. Pure Joy is a fine album that can instil feelings of joy and happiness, though it didn't make me want to literally jump for joy - it's a more restrained kind of joy, in my opinion. This is Russel's debut on the Real Music label, and he's carrying on the tradition of using the oboe as his instrument of choice. The oboe is the lead instrument on this album but far from the only one, he's joined by eight musicians and three vocalists. Listening to Pure Joy transports one's feelings to happy places where cares and concerns are washed away by the music. In this respect it's kind of nostalgic, making one remember what it's like to be a child playing happily without responsibilities or worries. Cheery melodies with some rhythms are played on a variety of instruments (guitars, piano, synths, and violins to name a few) with the oboe taking the lead in its distinctive way. It's certainly unusual to hear an album with the oboe featuring at all; I like its breezy positive tones but after many tracks I personally found it could become a little grating. Like many albums from the Real Music stable, Pure Joy has a romantic flavour without being too mushy in the way it delivers the emotion. The music is spread across nine discrete tracks averaging about five minutes each, some of which contain heavenly style wordless vocals. The piece that most sticks out for me is "One." This has a lovely melody played by the oboe accompanied by some of the other instruments, and an expressive female vocal used in both background and foreground. I thought this track sounded familiar; a quick [investigation] showed it is the first track on Real Music's compilation Freedom to Love. Pure Joy is a joy to listen to, it's good at creating a calm but positive atmosphere through the distinctive sound of the oboe and the upbeat melodies. |
|
