From awahlbom@Krille.Update.UU.SE Thu Nov 16 04:31:27 1995 From: Anders Wahlbom To: HineFans Subject: Swedish Hine articles CHANGE & RECOGNITION RUPERT HINE: Waving Not Drowning (A&M) (Review from Schlager no. 38 (5/82)) When Rupert Hine released his last album, "Immunity", things were much easier. At the time, it was just any record, even if Hine had made his mark with his band Quantum Jump a couple of years earlier. Still, Hine's wasn't a well-established name, and that's why "Immunity" took me by storm with its maturity and perfection. Now, when "Waving Not Drowning" is on my turntable, the situation has changed. "Immunity" became a big hit, Hine a big name, as an artist as well as a producer. "Waving Not Drowning" puts heavy demands upon Hine, that he's never had to face before. Maybe that's why it's a minor (note: *minor*) disappointment. I expect so much and for the most part I find repeats of ideas from "Immunity". At least where the musical part is concerned. In terms of lyrics, there's been a change; "Immunity"'s lyrics were about the lyricist Jeanette Obstoj's inner thoughts. On "Waving Not Drowning", the subjects are more general: youth rebellion, racial riots, totalitarian rule. And that's a change for the better. But in terms of sound you recognise quite a lot. Hine keeps building on his ideas about using all the resources of a studio to the max. The listener is met by loads of sounds, distortions, effects, despite the music basically being rather simple pop; it's simply cinemascope pop. The problem is that Hine has a tendency to make *too* smart, *too* complicated arrangements, there is seldom time to digest all the impressions that flood out of the speakers (besides, you need fairly advanced equipment to enjoy Hine's music in full). In a song like "The Outsider" (which, by the way, sounds quite a lot like Peter Gabriel) he calms down and I can follow all the turns and twists. Thus, "The Outsider", along with "The Curious Kind" and the single "The Set Up" are the greatest moments of the album. Another strong track is "The Sniper", where Hine for a moment steps away from his favourite sound, with heavy Phil Collins-style drums, and lets the tune do the work instead. Ironically, Phil Collins plays percussion on "The Sniper". But "Waving Not Drowning" is an album that contains so much that after I've listened to it another dozen times, I might have different thoughts about it. In that case, I'll be back with a new report. (This could become the serial of the year. /Album ed.) [It didn't. /Anders] - Lars Nylin ---