Article by John Shaw
From The Catalogue (Apr88)
This is the first album release from the Trees for two years, after hiding
with some great success in Europe. I find it a shame that when bands get
overseas popularity they seem to neglect their homes, but then again, they
say where the streets are paved with gold Jack's not a poor boy (or so my
last manager kept telling me).
Well, with "The Millpond Years" I hope the Trees at last get the respect and
sales they deserve at home as well as abroad. "The Millpond Years" encompasses
songs of a certain grandeur in a production and writing style. There is the
feeling of thought on a larger scale than the average, stylised movement of
vast sounds converging on Simon Jones' pleading vocal tones, seen in all its
glory in the wash of guitar, booming drums and sequence drone of
"Count Jefferey", uncompromising and making no excuses in its own excess.
Songs again, so good to feel optimism with the pulsating tones of "Shaletown",
a true ballad crossing many bridges of musical style, the flowing strings and
band subtletly of "From The Silver Frost", including a beautifully-injected
trombone duet that comes and goes as smoothly as it's played, creating an
original instrumental track that lifts the record to a more ethereal plane.
Well-structured, well-played and well-produced, capturing the band in a more
vogueish light that can only work well.
[J.S]