Trisomie 21 – T21 Plays The Pictures

Just 13 tracks on the vinyl edition. But head to the CD version and you gain a further 10, albeit slight re-readings of other tracks on T21PTPictures.

Bamboo(1) is the same as Bamboo on "Final Work"
At This Time Of Writing(1) is the same as At This Time Of Writing on "Final Work"
W.S.W. (West-South-West) is the same as W.S.W. (West-South-West) on "Final Work" without outro.
Right To Reply (1) is the same Track as Right To Reply (2)
Another version of Take The Shock Away is available on "Side By Side"

1989 was a big year for Trisomie 21. Indeed, the band was allowed to release 2 albums within the same year, both being very idiosyncratic of the band in a sort of way.

The second album released almost at the same time as Works was Plays The Pictures, and it was totally different affair. A kind of soundtrack to a movie you would direct on your own. The problem was, is ANYBODY able to win this challenge? I guess not.

Th fact is, this ambitious record needs a lot of focus (and patience too). Time to reconnect the tracks after a first listen, realize you go back to the start for some tracks are just identical, minus the drums, voice or guitars. It longs for a certain cohesion, and yet it never really gels. And that's the problem.

Nonetheless, there are excellent tracks reminding how T21 can paint wonderful soundscapes with a few brushes. Samples from Billy Idol and Asian people collide and conjure up the gap between the urban jungle and its real counterpart, in a far off land. My Year Is A Day / One Last Play make up a great exotic track, Bamboo too. WSW takes you on a ride across the river. But other tracks sound superfluous as mere repetitions or failed exercises in sound. For instance, Take The Shock Away almost seems out of place here, being so predictable and accessible. Or perhaps THAT was the point.

The vinyl version of the album contained 13 tracks instead of 23. Needless to say that shortening the tracklist was a good idea. The trouble is, the tracklist sounds nonsensical given the quality of some tracks that were put aside, and most of all its revamped chronology leaves the listener at a loss when comparing with the original CD. Or perhaps THAT was the point, too.

A dreamy and atmospheric album, but frankly a bit disappointing and lackluster compared to previous efforts. I don't know the background on this album, but the title is indicative of the contents in that most of these songs and vignettes sound like music for film soundtracks and less like the more fully formed music on their previous records. It still sounds like Trisomie 21, just a bit less inspired and distinctive.

Dreamy, atmospheric, adventurous. Very expressive. An overlooked masterpiece of the era.

Goth experimental ambient excellence.... Contains more beautiful melodies and better musical ideas in one record than many groups ever generate in their entire careers. And still miles ahead of their time, as usual. Great for a soul searching walk or drive, or make out session, take your pick :)