Play 90 second soundbite of 'Killing Time' @ 'CD quality'
'Killing Time' has a distinctly low key, raw and dark feel to it throughout its six tracks. Baines tells it like he sees it and supports his outcries with empathetic guitar chords and a general sense of mortality. The album is somewhat under-produced which tends to add to its darkness. That's ok, if that's the Baggage way! However, this guy has messages he wants to share and I can't help but feel that his songs would benefit from sensitive production if only to clean up the sound and provide added dynamics to what are pretty good works.
Baines' voice and delivery remind me a little of early Tindersticks; 'Sleep, Again' being typical. That said, it almost goes without saying that, Baggage and 'Killing Time' will not be to everyone's taste as it stands. After all, even Tindersticks went for multi-tracking and good production techniques and still remained only a cult band. That in mind, the overall Baggage package requires a little tidying up to make it more readily accessible. But, something tells me that this is exactly how Baines believes that Baggage should be; deep, dark and somewhat cultish. If so, to be true to himself Baines should persevere and leave things pretty much untouched. But, conversely, there is the case for getting wider acceptance which will require Baines to 'come clean' and look to enhance his music in order to get really noticed.
'Killing Time' then by Baggage - good songs but lacking somewhat in production and attention to detail. At the moment the Baggage should be labelled as 'heavy' and incur proportionate penalties. Lighten the 'Baggage' and the scales of fortune should tip towards beneficial rewards.
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