Ochs, Conny: Black Happy

Sometimes one just wants to weep at some of the utter crap that record companies and PR people say about artists. Conny Ochs, for instance has made an ok, passable album of acoustic songs which drags slightly as it meanders along despite its relatively short running time. It's all a bit too similar after a while. Ochs' people, however, describe his work as, "Deeply rooted in the blackened parts of the human soul he carves a mixture of melancholy and catharsis into the rough edges of songs that come out so natural, so organic and sonically sparkling. While keeping his approach pure to the heart and the creation limited to just him and his guitar Ochs reaches a stark authenticity that can only be worshipped. It draws you in, makes you a part of the music and leads to a deep admiration of the tunes, the pain and beauty relatable to everybody who hears them."

There are some affecting songs on Black Happy especially "No Sleep Tonight", however, at no point did I feel the urge to deify Mr Ochs or indeed worship him. "Die in Your Arms" is infinitely more uplifting than the title would suggest and possibly has the stark authenticity alluded to in the previous paragraph but the world will remain spinning along nicely. That's not to doubt the quality or sincerity of Ochs' work but Black Happy would have been better as an EP because of the lack of gear changing throughout.

Track Listing:

1. Exile
2. No Sleep Tonight
3. Faces in the Crowd
4. Stable Chaos
5. Trust in Love
6. Borderline
7. Phantom Pain
8. Lead-Out
9. Blues for my Baby
10. Mouth

Added: February 27th 2013
Reviewer: Simon Bray
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 1781
Language: english

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