After listening to this album several times I’m convinced that nothing else as moving, charming and wonderful will be released in 2009. Neither will there be another release financed by fans through selling shares of the album. The boxed version of the album I received comes with a 100 plus page story book as this album is a 40 minute musical narrative about the ultimate coupling of Bob and Veronica after a chance meeting. The main protagonists here are vocalists Anne Gilpin and Robert Hacker Jesset supported instrumentally by Leo Fernandez, Camilo Parra and Alex Paleaz.BOB AND VERONICA RIDE AGAIN is essentially an adult rock-pop album interspersed with short sound samples taken at points in the journey, such as rail station announcements. First song ‘Veronica’s Revenge (continued)’ effectively starts the journey with crowd noises and the most fragile and glacially slow vocal from Gilpin. It is strong on melody, with a most hypnotic ambience, and finishes with a station announcement. ‘Chandelier’ contains one of several beautiful vocal duets featuring Gilpin and Jesset. The dreamy instrumental arrangement is perfect and the distant sample of ‘The Nearness Of You’ which completes the song is pure genius. ‘Sequin Smile’ opens with the dark bass vibe of rock guitars in complete contrast to the sweet, hushed tones of Gilpin’s voice.

‘Ordinary Pleasures’ is another beauty which has Gilpin and Jesset reminiscing over simple events experienced over a backdrop of single piano notes, astral sound effects and police car sirens. By this point one is totally sucked into this album, waiting to see what happens next…

‘Funny Peculiar’ is out and out pop with Beach Boy ba, ba, bas in the distance and hammond pounding away alongside sharp percussive notes. The rocky sound returns with ‘John Young’ although this time the vibe is a combo of blues and country while a tad more threatening. Thunder claps and hammond introduces Jesset singing about painted memories in ‘Hang It On The Wall.’ It’s a highlight here with its changes in pace, instrumentation and epic scale. ‘Nobody Understands’ reminds me of the David Lynch TWIN PEAKS soundtrack: mystical and moving. There’s also a hint of Radiohead as Gilpin gently contemplates life and death, supported by some glorious vocal harmonies.

Plucked guitar, hand claps provide a simpler opening backdrop to Gilpin’s lovely vocal on ‘Nobody Understands’, which by the last segment builds to a more rocky sound. ‘Bob, Veronica And Some Crickets’ uses heavily distorted vocals, pounding heart beats and a vibe akin to something resembling a drunken haze…

This album is nothing short of compelling and I imagine has taken some time to create. While adventurous, the album is accessible, sonically diverse and a total joy - quite an achievement. It’s currently available as an MP3 download with hard copy available on the 25th May. My summary? Two words - MOVING & ESSENTIAL.

4.5/5