Artist: Enchantment
Label:Century Media Records
Release Date: 1994
Rating: 3 Skulls
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Title: Dance the Marble Naked Artist: Enchantment Label:Century Media Records Release Date: 1994 Rating: 3 Skulls |
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Equinox's Review:
On a recent trip to sunny California, USA, I met a few of the employees of Century Media Records, and the first thing I asked them, before any introductions could be made, was if any of them knew where the reels were from the recording of Enchantment's Dance The Marble Naked. "Why," you say? I wanted to get a copy of the album without vocals. "Why," you ask again? Well, without vocals, this album would be one of the top doom records of all time. With vocals, however, it is an entirely different story. Let me see if I can explain...Ever see Labyrinth? Remember the big monster with the goofy booming voice? I can't recall this creature's name, but I am pretty sure it wasn't "Paul," as Enchantment's album's liner notes suggest. Regardless of his name, his vocal performance ranks as one of the poorest (yet strangely comedic) in recorded history. I think Paul should have been told that trying to sing actual 'notes' in a gurgling metal growl was not such a great idea.
As a whole, the album is an above-average example of mid-period UK Doom, with songs such as "My Oceans Vast," "The Touch of a Crown" and the opener "Kneading With Honey" being pretty solid, with eerie passages, stark harmonies and a low down slow down tempo. There is one exceptionally above average gem to be heard here, the amazing late album opus "Of Acorns That Gather" (which is MUSICALLY one of the finest UK Doom Metal songs of all-time). Even with the Doom Metal Genius of this particular track, the vocals render the song almost unlistenable. In fairness, Paul is probably a nice guy, I don't mean to base. His lyrics aren't too bad, actually pretty good at times, if not somewhat overly poetic, and he does manage to sneak in the word "uterus" (hehe).
Again, without a doubt, this CD would be heralded as one of the finest Doom albums ever if it wasn't for the Muppet singer. If Enchantment have taught us anything with Dance the Marble Naked, it's that an album doesn't necessarily have to be a 'five-star gem' to be a classic. Don't get me wrong; the songs on this album are quite good, and I rock this CD often, but the reality here is that the singer is the worst singer ever. This is not opinion, it is fact. Anyone who has heard this classic will surely agree.
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