COUNCIL SKIES

Product Information

In the same recent media interview, it rings true really when he states that despite the artwork the title track is the only one that really refers to his earlier life in Manchester interestingly, but the greater variety of theme is welcome. This 10 track album includes the singles ‘Pretty Boy’ and ‘Easy Now’ plus an Album version of the previously released demo ‘We’re Gonna Get There In The End’ as a bonus track. Certain items can take longer to source than the estimated week, particularly during busy trading periods and may take longer to arrive at our warehouse. In fact the most interesting track on his new album is the title track, which has an unusual Style Council/Soul feel to it (Gallagher has always been a bit of a Weller fanboy).

I'm Not Giving Up Tonight is a good start while the optimistic, sprightly Open the Door, See What You Find - about finding your place in the world - warranted its place as the fifth single. There are four instrumental version of song from the album, it’s always interesting to hear tracks without the vocals, but it’s only really works with iconic songs. After the sensational success of the first two Oasis records, perhaps there was too much pressure on Noel to keep creating globe gobbling anthems and now in HFB it is better as he can just concentrate on writing great songs instead.

Council Skies’ is the highly anticipated fourth studio album from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. In a recent media interview, Noel Gallagher stated that he wished the David Bowie-like (similar chords to Ashes to Ashes) closer Think of a Number had been the first track and the opener the last instead, but the current selection is spot on. Barry says: There's no arguing that while the Gallagher popularity preference has shifted a little more recently towards Liam, it was older brother Noel's post-Oasis work that was the most refined, with the High Flying Birds hitting the perfect balance of melody and thoughtful songwriting. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

His most varied and accomplished solo record to date, Noel’s fourth solo studio album is a record framed by confidence, risk-taking, surefooted creative freedom, and great emotional depth.Council Skies was recorded at Noel’s own Lone Star Sound Recording Studios in London, with the album’s lusciously orchestrated strings recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Noel Gallagher melding all these legendary old bands together coupled with his ability to create his own fresh song from these inspirations ensures that Pretty Boy is the most thrilling, danciest and scintillating five minutes of Council Skies. Noel Gallagher's HFB vinyl can always be relied upon and yet again this version is superior to the CD as it is so pleasantly loud and clear sounding and all the songs elegantly segue into the next one. Council Skies' is the highly anticipated fourth studio album from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

Produced by Noel with long-time collaborator Paul ‘Strangeboy’ Stacey, the album also features performances from Johnny Marr on three tracks, including recent single Pretty Boy. So a melting pot of retro-styles that is on the whole successful, it’s just a shame Noel didn’t feel the urge to push himself more.The title track (and fourth single) - about finding love in Noel Gallagher's pre-fame years in Burnage - is the second best song on the album and sounds like Paul Weller/The Smiths (Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr plays on it and two other tracks) but with more sweeping strings. Noel version of Lennon’s “Mind Games” is what you would expect a John Lennon song would sound like if sung by a Gallagher. Although slightly more experimentation would be pleasing next time, this is a truly really strong set of tunes - tracks 2-7 are especially magical - and the most complete album of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds discography. The 21st century Oasis efforts were patchy in greatness, but the first HFB album included a lot of the really good leftovers that were either going to be on a future Oasis record if there had not been a row or maybe did not fit the sound and were more suitable as a solo tracks. Noel Gallagher is friends with Bono and Council Skies is like a superior equivalent to U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind (which was for the most part too poppy) in that it is more back to first principles but aspects of the more "far out there" sonic soundscapes remain as the instrumentation is so numerous and rich.

It was not ground-breaking, but the HFB debut had some brilliant songs and was a very good introduction. For items that are dispatched using our standard service, we ask that you wait 14 days from the date of dispatch before reporting any items as undelivered. and the penultimate track Love is a Rich Man are unashamedly mid to fast paced traditional/dad rock but they inject this mostly ballad filled album with a couple of vital louder numbers. I'm Not Giving Up Tonight is the rousing beginning the album needs while Think of a Number is a good, thoughtful and epic way for the album to finish. Council Skies takes its title from a book by revered northern illustrator and friend of Noel, artist Pete McKee.

There are some strong songs on “Council Skies”, but it's all pretty much what would be expected from one of Noel’s solo offerings.