Apples For Isaac

『Apples For Isaac』は、Echo & The Bunnymenにとって10年以上ぶりとなる新曲で構成されたスタジオ・アルバムである。長年にわたり世界各地で名曲の数々を演奏してきた彼らが、バンドの本質を改めて見つめ直し、大胆さと繊細さを兼ね備えた作品を完成させた。
BMGからの前作となる2018年の『The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon』では初期の代表曲を再構築したが、本作では完全新作として新たな一歩を踏み出す。オープニング・ナンバー「Take Me By The Hand」が鳴り響く瞬間から、初期作品を彷彿とさせる切迫感とエネルギーはいささかも失われていないことが伝わってくる。
先行シングル「Brussels Is Haunted」は、過去の亡霊をテーマにしながらも、ポスト・パンクの先駆者としてのバンドの誇りと、力強く希望に満ちたコーラスが印象的な一曲。本作全体を象徴する楽曲となっている。
また、本作の収録曲のうち1曲を除くすべてで、Clem Burke(Blondie)が演奏に参加。制作途中に惜しくも逝去した、長年の友人でもあった彼に対し、バンドは次のようなメッセージを捧げている。
「偉大なる伝説のドラマー、Clem Burke。長年Mac(Ian McCulloch)の友人でもあった彼は、このアルバム制作に欠かせない存在でした。そして完成を待たずに旅立ってしまいました……愛しているよ、Clem。」

デジスリーヴ 1CD仕様

After the theatrical bombast of 2014s Meteorites and the misfire of 2018s The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon, where the band recast their old songs in new cabaret-ish arrangements, Echo & the Bunnymens 13th album Apples for Isaac is a return to basics. The relatively sparse production, propulsive tempos, and wired sense of dynamics call to mind Crocodiles, the shimmering ballads are warmly melancholic like songs from Evergreen, and the lyrics throughout feel strangely down to earth (at least for them.) To get this sound and feel, Ian McCulloch took the reins almost completely, writing all the songs and playing many instruments, though guitarist Will Sergeant is on hand to contribute his wavily psychedelic guitar lines when needed. The drummer, importantly, is Blondies Clem Burke and hes no stranger to keeping the beat moving ahead with great intention. Minimal strings are provided by Erica Nockalls and thats it. McCullochs vision for this album is focused and precise; the songs are short and to the point, the hooks are sharp, and the sound is easy to digest. There might be a touch less drama than one might expect from an Echo album, but theres enough to keep it from being even the smallest bit bland. Songs like "The Light That Surrounds You" or "Take Me by the Hand" have enough tension to keep listeners on the edge of their seat. Plus, McCulloch is always going to be a singer who imbues even the calmest. most easygoing-sounding song -- like "Ill Be Your Sunshine" -- with enough wire-walking emotion to give chills. He hasnt lost any of that uncanny ability here, even if age may have shaved a little bit off the top of his range. He can handle a searching ballad like "An Unstoppable Force" with nary a problem, driving each aching word home with heartfelt power just as well as he can swoon through a peppy rocker ("Brussels Is Haunted") or a nervy post-punk mood piece ("Asimov"). Its a truly admirable performance and his voice and vision propel the album into a heady realm. It has all the passion and imagination of their early work which, when paired with the melodic gifts and flair for performing that has never flagged, makes Apples for Isaac proof that the band is still capable of making vital music, maybe even some of the best of their career. ~ Tim Sendra