Comments for Browne, Duncan, Songs of Love & War

Currently, one of my favourite albums and likely to remain one of my all time favourites. Duncan Browne wrote very polished pop/rock songs and moving instrumentals. This CD collects his most recent work and was finished after his untimely demise by his musical colleagues: Colin Blunstone, (Alan Parsons Project) on vocals, Nick Magnus (Steve Hackett), Sebastian Graham-Jones and Tony Hymas on keyboards, Nic Potter (Van Der Graaf Generator) and John Giblin on bass, and various other notables. This is a fine collection, including the hit, "The Wild Places" (which sounds a little out of place in this context, but is a nice bonus). Even with the way this album has been put together it still works amazingly well as a coherent whole, with the sound throughout being comparable to the more commercial end of APP (Eve, Ammonia Avenue) and Camel (Stationary Traveller, The Single Factor). If you like those albums then this is definitely for you: the instrumentals are a real treat (although not progressive pieces like his "Camino Real") and the songs all gems of their type. Colin Blunstone sings in his "Keats" style, but this material is far better. Duncan Browne, anunderrated artist, will be missed by many. Ian C. Thomas