[.ca] Acoustic Strawbs: Baroque & Roll

Unbelievable:
The Strawbs have done it again! This CD contains several old songs and a few newer ones in beautiful acoustic arrangements. Tunes that one would think could not succeed with only acoustic guitars sound as good as or even better than the originals. An absolute must for any Strawbs fan, and well worth listening to for anyone who loves acoustic folk.

Astonishing:
If you're reading reviews of this CD, you are likely a Strawbs fan from way back. If that's the case, and you like acoustic guitar, you'll love this CD. I'm frankly astonished. Acoustic versions of songs done originally with electric instruments and full orchestration are usually pretty pathetic, even if they are well arranged. The fullness of the sound is almost always lost, and the missing percussion leaves the music sounding hollow. Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby have pulled off a sound that I've never heard accomplished on acoustic guitars before. The lush, full sound of the original Strawbs tunes is all here. The two Daves' voices have a new, rich timbre. Cousins' voice retains that sweet, emotional rasp, and Lamberts' voice still has its sharp edge. But the magic is in the guitar playing. Cousins' tunes have never been simple. Between time and key changes and various tunings, he has always challenged the ear and delivered powerful songs. The arrangements respect the complexity of the music, and keyboard and bass parts are resolved masterfully by these guitarists. It's easy to forget there's no drummer on any tune. (A couple of tracks have a small string section.) It's also easy to forget there's not a full band playing here - you just get mesmerized by these three guitars. If you want to really enjoy what's going on, twist your balance knob back and forth to hear what each guitarist is doing on each channel. You'll wonder how these guys did the arrangements, and how Cousins formulated such intricate tunes to begin with. "Ghosts", for my money, is better in this rendition than it was on the original record. "Remembering/When We Were Young" has always been a favorite of mine thanks to John Hawken's haunting mellotron. I still can't believe the feel of that sound could have been translated to guitars - but they pull it off with aplomb. "Tears & Pavan", which opens the set, takes you right back. Makes you want to put on the original, because you think you ARE hearing the original. (I still can't figure out how Lambert gets those bends and slides to sustain... he must be using something to help, but for the life of me I can't tell.) I'm blown away. This CD is on a lot at my house, in my office, and in my truck. But the magic continued a week after I got it. I've never seen the Strawbs live, but always wished I had. This CD seemed to be a nice consolation. I just found out they're playing three blocks from the house I grew up in next week. Kinda makes you wonder. I'll be there. If you can't get to one of their Spring 2003 US shows, you'll just have to live with this CD. Which may be enough.

Acoustic Heaven:
It is said that the sound generated by an acoustic guitar skillfully played will expand to fill the space available. Combine that with intricate changes of key and impetus and words delivered with feeling and emotion and you have an album of unbelievable power and depth. Beutifully structured and balanced with tunes stripped of their electronic emphasis and re-built as originally intended. Ghosts, The River and Down By the Sea have never been heard like this before. Newer works, Evergreen and Alice's song, a pretty little song about a lovely little girl with autism are memorable. Strawbs fans from the past or newer converts, this is an amazing CD!

bummer:
This CD gives new meaning to the word monotonous. If it doesn't put you to sleep, the inane lyrics will revolt you. I couldn't give it away.

• Tears and Pavan
• Remembering \oInstrumental\c
• You and I (When We Were Young)
• Evergreen
• Ghosts
• There Will Come the Day
• Not All the Flowers Grow
• Inside Your Hell Tonight
• Golden Salamander
• River
• Down by the Sea
• Flower and the Young Man
• Benedictus
• Alice's Song