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Bill Nelson: Buddha Head (CD, XX:XX) POPU004CD
Populuxe
P.O. Box 50, Houghton-le-Spring,
DH4 5YP England
CYBERHOME: http://www.webworlds.co.uk/the-wilderness/

Bill Nelson’s Buddha Head is a very “80’s” sounding pop record that
reminded me in some parts of Robert Fripp’s solo debut Exposed, and
in other parts Roxy Music’s Avalon.  The tracks on Buddha Head
use plenty of synthetic beats to lay the foundation for Nelson’s fine guitar
playing and Bowie-esque vocals.  However, while the formula for musical
success may be there, Nelson’s execution is a bit flawed and Buddha
Head turns out to be an overall disappointment.

The main issue I have with Buddha Head is not so much that the songs
are bad, it’s more that they are too many songs on the CD that sound similar
to one another.  Of the 17 tracks, I’d say only about 3 or 4 of them stand
out as having any characteristics that help distinguish themselves from the
others.  After getting through about 8 or so tracks, I frankly just began to
lose interest as one synth-driven pop track followed another.  Perhaps at a
track count of around 10 or so this CD would’ve been easier to swallow, but
asking a listener to digest 17 songs that sound pretty much the same is a
tall order.

Although most of the tracks are a bit on the mediocre side, some songs do
pop out as being superior to the others.  “Karma Kisses” is one of those – a
song with an excellent synth-driven rhythm section setting the foundation
for some very nice guitar work by Nelson.  “Perfect World” is a mellow
“techno-reggae” number with a very smooth vibe and more of Nelson’s pleasant
guitar playing. Were there more songs like these two on the CD, Buddha
Head would have been more of a success – however, these songs are the
exception to the rule.

Bill Nelson seems to have plenty of talent, but I think it would be in his
best interest if he tried to branch out with his future compositions – focus
less on quantity and more on quality.  That change, along with a real
drummer, could help Nelson get to the next musical level.  However, with
Buddha Head this level is not even approached.

More information on Bill Nelson can be found at
http://www.webworlds.co.uk/the-wilderness/

- Michael Askounes (michael@gscyclone.com)

PERSONNEL:
Bill Nelson: All instruments and vox

TRACKLIST:
1. My Philosophy (3:38)
2. Killing My Desires (5:07)
3. Budda Head (3:23)
4. The Way (3:53)
5. Big River (4:09)
6. Karma Kisses (2:37)
7. We Will Rise (3:27)
8. Signs and Signals (4:49)
9. Lotus in the Stream (3:33)
10. Enlightenment (4:29)
11. Eternally (3:10)
12. Duality (4:12)
13. Perfect World (4:47)
14. The Heart Has its Reasons (4:41)
15. Sun Will Rise (4:06)
16. The Big Illumination (3:58)
17. Life As We Know It (3:09)



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