From awahlbom@Krille.Update.UU.SE Thu Nov 16 04:31:27 1995 From: Anders Wahlbom To: HineFans Subject: Swedish Hine articles RUPERT HINE: The Wildest Wish To Fly (CBS) (Review from Schlager no. ?/83) The Rupert Hine Case once again. Since Hine's impressive debut with "Immunity" a couple of years ago, which had a number of songs that have become minor classics, I've waited for him to come on and release a completely successful album. Instead, last year's "Waving Not Drowning" was a step back, and this year's attempt can at best be described as marking time. There's one (yes, one) really good song here - and by that I mean one that reaches what I know Rupert Hine is capable of. It's called "A Golden Age". Apart from that, there's nothing bad here; Hine is to skillful a songwriter for that. But most of the songs are faster and have more attack than the kind of music he's become known for. That is a style he doesn't even come close to mastering in the same way as the calmer and more majestic pieces in a Genesis/Gabriel tradition. Among the latter are, apart from (parts of) "A Golden Age", the beautiful "Firefly In The Night" and - after a little rougher intro - the title track. The faster tracks work best when Robert Palmer appears on vocals, especially on "Living In Sin". Palmer's soul voice gives some life to these a bit strained songs. The lyrics, finally, are still a strength. As usual, they're written by Hine's wife Jeanette Obstoj, and give substance to the doom-laden mood that's also transmitted by the music. Hine is not out to make us worried without a reason; you just can't hide. To mention "The Golden Age" again, it's about the nuclear war: "I can't go on believing this/Have I lived just to witness the last decade?" Hopefully, the Rupert Hine Case is not closed yet. - Soeren Nylin [don't know if he's related to Lars Nylin...] ---