The Topfloor - The Topfloor

Tracklisting: 1. Walk On 2. Story About A Boy 3. Chicago 4. Icarus 5. One Small Thought 6. One Fine Day 7. Star 8. Ballad 9. Goodbye Janey 10. All This 11. Now Clive

Who doesn't like to discover a country, or its hidden sides , thanks to its music and artists? In such a case, the hardest thing for musicians or painters, or any kind of people passionate for art in general, however they express their emotions and feelings, is to become a reflection of these particular places that people can't even notice while travelling through countries.Like Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen in the USA, artists have to become the voice of the deeply forgotten people, and also have to tell stories for the unknown. And The Topfloor, coming from Reading, England, does this as well.

Listening to their first CD is like travelling through the fields of Berkshire, if you know what I mean; each song is a kind of pause during that long and captivating journey, and tells us different stories about love, places where we would like to go (Chicago), or stories about people, as their titles say it (Story About A Boy, Goodbye Janey, Now Clive). Musically, The Topfloor plays a folk-rock style which is used to reveal this particular part of their work:the guitars bring a continuous rhythm to each song (except for songs like Chicago or All This), and each instrument sounds old and genuine.The piano has a dry and old sound (Walk On, Chicago, All This),the rhythm guitars bring a folk mood to the tracks (Ballad), and sometimes sound like blues-rock music (One Small Thought). Then, while the listener goes through these amazing different styles and discovers each song's individuality, he also admires a wonderfully powerful but melancholy voice which tells stories, one by one.

And this amazing voice has its prime importance for the admiration conveyed by The Topfloor music. How can't it remind us of older R.E.M. albums and, closer to their own style, the Counting Crows? The Topfloor and this second band share a despair and emotion that shines to our eyes, as we discover stories told by a moving and sad but powerful voice. Each story is told in a different way and, even though it first appears to be repetitive, the way the band tells about its own sad pieces of life creates admiration and compassion, and above all, attention. These songs are significant of a real representation of folk music, in its most realistic and visceral way.

In order to make each song a part of a whole journey across the forgotten lands we are travelling through, the band brings original ideas to each tune, sometimes moving, and sometimes surprising.The arrangements are well thought and impressive, well-created and impressive. From a desperate and sad violin (One Fine Day) to massive strings sounds (Icarus, Star), and from a single piano basis (Chicago) to a kind of classical and elaborated piano melody (All This),the songs shine like reflections of light through a musical diamond, revealing each side of it. And, as soon as these sparkling lights attract and create admiration in our souls,the tunes become more and more intense and powerful, minute after minute. First, sounding simple and soft, they grow into intensity and strength, then sometimes explode into a powerfully moving and desperate mood, drowning the listener into a sad and melancholic flow (Icarus, Now Clive). As each song comes to an end, it also hypnotizes the listeners and leaves them in a state of deep loss and surprise, sometimes bringing tears to their eyes (Ballad). And, after the excellent last song Now Clive ends, people know that they went through a particular and intimate piece of music, revealing its richness minute after minute.

The Topfloor album is a real revelation, full of melancholy and power, and a route throughout a desperate world into which the musicians lead us as their special guests. After listening to this remarkable folk-rock masterpiece, everyone will feel disconnected and lost in foggy English landscapes, finding warmth and comfort in that awesome and moving music. The Topfloor are the voice of the wretched, lost loves and lonely people telling stories to exorcise their pain. And, as sad as well as brilliant and full of hope, this album should be considered as a revelation for people knowing what music coming from heart and soul really is, revealing pain and curing it. This album is a remedy for depressed and lost souls; and, believe me, it works pretty well...