[.ca] Lilac 6

From Amazon.co.uk:
The ex-Duran Duran front man, Stephen Duffy, releases his sixth album as The Lilac Time, aptly titled, Lilac6. Since the release of their self-titled album in 1987, The Lilac Time has produced a kind of folky pop that is quintessentially English. Duffy is now in his 40s as this collection of songs reveals. "Middle Age is All the Rage" is the opening line of the album's first track "Dance Out of the Shadows", a whimsical ballad with a simple melody strummed on an acoustic guitar. The tempo changes for "This Morning" as Duffy recollects his teenage angst for the new generation. The overall impression is that Duffy has been listening to a lot of country music of late, evident on "Come Home Everyone", the pedal steel guitar enhancing the sentimental reminiscence of the song. Long-time collaborators Steven Page, Tyler Stewart and Kevin Hearne of The Barenaked Ladies, have been enrolled into the ranks, bringing with them their pop quirkiness which works very well. The trademark instrumental jigs of Nick Duffy are here in the form of "Jupe Lengue" and "Junen Buffalo" which are as fun and refreshing as ever and complete this very pleasing package of songs. Lilac 6 is probably the band's most consistent album since 1990s And Love For All. --Jamie Clark

Chronique amazon.fr:
La légende veut que le leader de The Lilac Time, le chanteur Stephen Duffy, soit un des membres fondateurs de Duran Duran qu'il quitta avant que le groupe n'ait rencontré quelque succès. Pourtant c'est aux antipodes de la pop synthétique de ces derniers qu'il s'est fait connaître. Plutôt romantique, le personnage s'attelle à peaufiner depuis la fin des années 80 de trop rares albums acoustiques et contemplatifs qui ne sont pas sans évoquer la figure tutélaire de Nick Drake dont la chanson "River Man" a offert son patronyme au groupe. Lilac6 reste fidèle à une ligne de conduite qui n'a pas varié d'un iota, prolongeant le précédent et essentiel Looking For A Day In The Night paru en 1999. Fort de ses influences folk et country, Lilac Time impose une fois encore ses mélodies délicates empreintes de mélancolie. Magique. --Hervé Comte

Stop and Smell the Lilacs:
Not much has changed over the years in the Lilac Time's universe. Yes, the band now features the occasional modern-sounding loop or contemporary production touch, but this is essentially the same melodic, amiable group that put out such lustrous late '80s offerings as "The Lilac Time" and "Paradise Circus." Leading light Stephen Duffy knows his way round a pretty tune, and with his sweet nasal voice he doesn't skimp on "Lilac6." Following 1999's peerless return to form "Looking for a Day in the Night," the new album puts you in its gentle sway with lilting melodies and melancholy lyrics that broach subjects from aging to mortality itself. "Dance Out of the Shadows" hits upon the former theme, beginning with the words: "Middle age / it's all the rage / & it's my life style option." What rock star who wants to be hip with the kids has the effrontery to toss off a line like that? As a whole, the album exudes the "beautiful despair and other folktales" of its subtitle, especially on tracks like the darkly graceful "Wasted" and the desperately gorgeous "Come Home Everyone." A subtle gem filled with unexpected lights and colors, "Lilac6" quietly insinuates itself in your subconscious.

Stephen Duffy and Lilac Time do it again:
The Lilac Time can't make a mediocre album. This one is great like the other five.Lilac -6 has it all, great lyrics, melody, beautiful pedal steel guitar, effects. Stephen's voice is superb as are backing vocals. Stephen's banjo appears on track 11 "the Last Man on the Moon". Stephen is a master of finely crafted pop songs that are timeless.This album like all the others will make you happy and grateful to be alive with it's expression of feeling. It gives me faith in the world knowing that such talent is at work in these times like all times.I only wish they were more popular in the United States.

Beautiful despair indeed--and some Barenaked involvement:
Wow, I don't know how Stephen Duffy keeps up this sort of quality. Two short years after the stunning Looking for a Day in Night, he and the Lilac Time return with Lilac 6. Nick Duffy contributes quite possibly his finest instrumental in track 6 (i'm sorry I can't give the title--I don't have the cd in front of me) and the five tracks that proceed it are crushingly brilliant. Several of the Barenaked Ladies appear on this album and Steven Page co-wrote the peppy and hilarious Entourage. If you like fine acoustic pop, along the lines of Simon & Garfunkel or the Smiths, you will love this record. The Lilac Time are often compared to Belle and Sebastian, but face facts, B & S simply aren't this good!

• Dance Out of the Shadows
• This Morning
• Come Home Everyone
• My Forest Brown
• I Want to Be Your Man
• Jupe Longue
• Jeans + Summer
• Wasted
• Entourage
• Foglights
• Last Man on the Moon
• Junes Buffalo