The 1981 Listening Post - Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming (and Get Back on the Beam)

 Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming (and Get Back on the Beam)

#178

May 8 1981

Bill Nelson

Quit Dreaming (and Get On the Beam)

Genre: Bowie

2.75 out of 5

I mean that., in the genre. From the first few seconds of the opener, “Banal”, I couldn’t help but hear David Bowie’s “Boys Keep Swinging”. And that’s fine, I guess. If you are influenced by someone, let your flag fly. But, just understand that you’re gonna get compared to that guy. And, if you’re okay with that, be ready to accept that you might fall short of your idol. 

Mind you, we are listening to the single album as released, not the double “Atmospheres” issue. Because “The release contained bonus disc Sounding The Ritual Echo (Atmospheres for Dreaming) featuring experimental, ambient instrumentals which Nelson had recorded privately at his home.” sounds like torture.

The album is very hit or miss with highs coming when he tries to be Gary Numan, as on “Disposible” but, even that is weak tea in comparison to the person he is patterning himself after. 

For the most part, though, this sounds like a Bowie record that didn’t make it past the demo stages. So, it’s tinny and thin and also uninteresting most of the time. 

Listen, musicians, you don’t HAVE to release your demos. You can workshop the ideas. Pass them on to others for feedback. Get input. Maybe…just maybe…you don’t release “Do You Dream in colour” until its, you know…ready. 

Ugh. 

There’s a lot of 80s New Wave potential here. It just needs…help. It’s a record that makes me want to root for it and despise it at the same time. That’s a feat. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/quit-dreaming-and-get-on-the-beam/1443999291