Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh – Overloaded Ark

I like press releases. Some are hilarious, some informative, many better than the album you have to listen to, others just plain awful. But never have I come across one as self-righteous, ill conceived and arrogant as the one that accompanied Overloaded Ark.It carries two “WARNINGS” (their caps) for all the “art/ (art?) music critics, reviewers and publicists regarding this album”. Firstly, it seems my earnestness is required. No problem. Apparently, this is because it was made with “blood and spirit”. Righto. Masaki goes on to say “none can write easy articles” by using Wiki or promo info (such as, erm, the press release?) etc. Because, apparently, if I’m a professional writer, with deep and wide knowledge for “art”, if I haven’t got a “generous love for ordinary readers (that’s you lot, I presume ”“ don’t take offence, I think he means well) who seeking good music, I’d better give up writing about them”. And he’s not joking either ”“ there’s talk of falling on swords and bleeding spirits.Secondly, according to our Masaki, this album can’t be listened to as MP3s because it contains “out of band frequencies” which “absolutely cannot” be heard on them. So, if I want to criticise the album (it says here) I’d better listen to it on good old authentic CD.So, to the press release itself then. In fairness, I can see his point. It’s so badly written it’s actually difficult to read. Before I’ve even taken the CD out of the box, I’m reliably informed that I can look forward to the pair of them drifting through placid waters, while in the distance thunderheads raise up. We’re talking lightening, raging, skies of shifting colour ”“ a trove of traditional, ancient and self composed “explorations”. Which I can only presume translates to two hippies armed with a bunch of instruments they can’t play that well and a bunker full of draw and pills.As for Wiki, the truth soon becomes apparent: young Masaki doesn’t have a Wiki page. Helena gets a mention (at least I presume it’s her) as a member of psych-folk band Espers, but doesn’t have her own page; a touch of jealousy, perhaps, from Mr Batoh? We’ll never know. However, it is the closest I’ve come to signing up as a Wiki editor for the craic.Sorry? What? Oh, the album. Well, “Espvall & Batoh endeavour to combine sounds from different times in history with an eye towards the creation of a peaceful new global village in the world of today””¦ “from Scandinavian folk to German madrigal to French and Italian medieval court dances and even a Latin hymn!” (their exclamation mark).As it says, they “endeavour”. Do they succeed? I’m blown if I know. Make your own mind up: just send me a message and I’ll email you some MP3s”¦