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Simon Collins: Becoming Human
Simon Collins - Becoming Human Album Art

Simon Collins: Becoming Human

Synth Electronica Rock
No Score

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 02.09.2020 | Released: 04.09.2020

I didn't know who Simon Collins is, or that he is the son of iconic drummer Phil Collins, and that he has had a rather ambitious, intriguing, yet somewhat sporadic recording career. The basic reason for this lack of knowledge is that I don't listen to the type of music he composes. Collins plays some blend of, and I'm just pin-wheeling here, synth and pop rock with electronica. If I had known that fact, even though I believe Frontiers Music offers listeners the finest bands and albums, I probably would not have listened to or reviewed this album. I'm in way over my head here.

Simon Collins - Click For Larger Image

Simon Collins

Because I do not know or understand Collins' genre, the best you're going get from this review is my uninformed description of the music within Becoming Human, his forth solo album. Which is why, for the first time in a very long time, I'm giving this album a No Score. Not because it has no merit, but because I don't have the depth of experience in the genre to offer the reader a decided conclusion. But on to my observations.

Most tunes seem to distil down to immense amounts of synths, programming, drums, and Collins' voice. Apparently, there are bass lines with acoustic and electronic guitar parts. But I had a hard time finding and distinguishing them from the synths and programming. Perhaps that's intentional. I don't know. But I'm pretty sure I heard electric guitar and a guitar solo (a surprise) within 40 Years. Which explains why I liked it above others. But that song is also an example of Collins' offering elements of harmony and melody, often tuned to his vocal arrangements, and then adding some pop rock groove to a song. You'll here some of the same within Becoming Human, Living In Silence, and The Universe Of Me. But, again, I'm just spit balling with my observations. Other songs simply confounded me like the lengthy Dead Ends, which seemed more like synth electronica prog. Is that a thing?

In the end, while swimming in uncharted musical waters, I did find Simon Collins' Becoming Human sublimely intriguing. Will it make a fan of synth electronica rock? Perhaps not. But fans of the same will probably be impressed.




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The Bottom Line

While swimming in uncharted musical waters, I did find Simon Collins' Becoming Human sublimely intriguing. Will it make a fan of electronica and synth rock? Perhaps not. But fans of the same will probably be impressed.

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