BBC Review
Bill Elms and co.'s beautiful widescreen vibe arrives even more finely-honed than before.
Chris Jones 2004-03-09
After 10 years Bill Elms and co.'s beautiful widescreen vibe arrives even more finely-honed than before: hardly surprising as the band are known for their live accompaniments to celluloid classics. ''Somewhere Over The Waves'' was composed to accompany the 1916 version of 20,000 leagues Under The Sea. Yet their touchstone remains the drylands of Texas and Arizona.
Stripped to a trio, Elms' awesome lap steel takes more of a backseat giving Mike Semple's gnarly guitar its head. Meanwhile rattling traps and keyboard washes take a stately walk towards the desert horizon. On companion pieces ''Dawn'' and ''Dusk'' Spanish strings bring the usual parched ambience.
Elms' statement that: 'maybe there's not much to be said about an instrumental album' frankly beggars belief. This band just gets better, and after a few airings of Lost Horizon you'll be raving like a gibbering madman to anyone within earshot about the new Friends you've found.
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