Thunder and Consolation
Occupation
- Justin Sullivan - vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Robert Heaton - drums, background vocals, guitar, bass
- Jason Harris - Bass, Keyboards, Guitar
- Ed Alleyne -Johnson - Violin
- Chris McLaughlin - guitar
Thunder and Consolation is the title of the fourth studio album by the British band New Model Army. It was produced by the band and Tom Dowd, was published on 15 March 1989 and received a gold record for selling over 250,000 copies in Germany.
Album
The 15 songs were already written in the years 1987/88. Justin Sullivan's texts draw on a wide range of grievances; both environmental destruction and alienation in the workplace, the family and their changing social role are critically reflected in some songs. This corresponds to the attitude of many other internationally known bands such as The Smiths and The Levellers during Margaret Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The previously dominant stylistic influence of the post-punk was extended to Thunder and Consolation. The album incorporates elements of folk rock and Irish folk. Belonged to the cooperation with the violinist Ed Alleyne -Johnson, who played several influenced by Irish folk solo part and then for hundreds of concerts for live cast of New Model Army, had its origin here. Usually without the long introduction of the solo violin - especially the song Vagabonds, which was published in the 1990s on several alternative rock compilations became known. Family Life is a accompanied only by an acoustic guitar folk song, Nothing Touches adds the guitar added a few other sound effects.
The sound shows a transition from the earlier emphasis on the bass lines towards a more oriented on drums and guitar sound. Emphasis is Pungent Inheritance, the "dry" the accompaniment of the singing voice to the blended drums and two reduced ailing piano sounds in the distance of a minor third. The recordings were mixed by Jon Kelly at Air Studios (London) and Andy Wallace in Quantum Sound Studio (New Jersey ), and finally mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios.
The album's title refers to the 1663 posthumous edition of works The Memorable Works of a Son of Thunder and Consolation of the Quaker Edward Burroughs ( 1634-1662 ), who was taken prisoner several times because of his religious convictions, and died in prison. The artwork designed - as with all other albums of the band - who is dating the Joolz Denby Sullivan artist.