Customer Reviews

In Falling Dark (Deluxe Edition) [IMPORT]

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This is possibly Bruce Cockburn's best album -- folks who really love _The Charity of Night_ might enjoy hunting down this one. There are a lot of different moods here, within a mellow acoustic folk-jazz medium. Everything flows into one attitude. "Lord of the starfields," "I'm gonna fly some day," and "festival of friends" are Christian mysticism, "vagabondage" is sung in French, "in the falling dark" and "gavin's woodpile" are brooding tunes with great poetic lyrics. "Little seahorse" is a quaint love song. All of the instrumentals are innocuous. "Giftbearer" has a waterfall sound to it. The best song on this album is a sung travel poem, "silver wheels". A classic.

Though this album has been around a while and Bruce Cockburn has many albums in his discography, this is a fine representation of his earlier work. An artist of conscience and compassion, this album demonstrates the wide scope of his thought and heart...

During the past three decades, Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn has undergone several stylistic progressions from Christian Folkie to Rocker. In The Falling Dark, originally released in 1976, is a work of literate folk music. The Christian overtones are here, but Bruce's devotion is more mystical rather than secular.

The album opens with the acoustic and melodic `Lord Of The Starfields.' Bruce's poetry is in top form: "Oh Love that fires the sun/Keep me burning." The composition includes a peculiar fluttering in the background which sounds like the blades of a helicopter, but on close listening, it's actually a set of bongos. `Little Seahorse' is light and whimsical with a gently dancing flute. `Silver Wheels' (track six) is the first song featuring a full band. A simple acoustic guitar line pushes the hypnotic song forward, Bruce's voice seems far in the distance, and the song includes an improvised "jazz" trumpet. Trumpets again introduce the vocals harmonies of `I'm Gonna Fly Someday.' The flute (or is it a piccolo) prances lightly in and around the song's lovely melody. Although melancholy, the final track (Festival Of Friends) is lyrically inspiring.

No particular song from In The Falling Dark jumps out of the speakers and forcefully grabs my attention: that's one of the key reasons I enjoy the album. Like Bruce's masterful guitar work, everything is understated and balanced - from the subtle trumpet notes to the unconventional stand-up bass playing. Overall, the album is relaxing and laid back, and Bruce's poetry is intelligent and memorable.

to acquire a masterpiece for the right price. The beginning of a fantastic artist. Just like Neil, cosmic and down to earth in a Canadian way. I just got a rare copy and let me tell you is worth the trip. I mean is 2010 and i just heard it for the first time yesterday and is already a favorite. Very well crafted and performed. Acustic pieces just for the mood, Miles tones just for kicks, great stories just to light your life...
A good way to end the decade. After all, the decade starts Jan 2011. Dig?. Enjoy...

When I listen to this album, it strikes me that Bruce was certainly ahead of his time in bringing a more worldy and earthy sound to us in his work.

This shows up in the albums best songs, in particular, Giftbearer. But, also in Lord of the Starfields, a fantastic spiritual song, and Silver Wheels. The lyrics in Silver Wheels are superb pure poetry. Vagabondage is a song with a lot of character, and I'm Gonna Fly Someday is a song you'll want to listen to over and over again. These songs form the heart of the album.

Others, such as Gavin's Woodpile, In The Falling Dark and Water Into Wine are just ok. They seem more like fillers to me. Little Seahorse is a fun little song, but seems out of place. And Festival of Friends is just a pure lame song - I wonder if it was written about Hamilton's Festival of Friends ?

On the strength of the good songs that make up the heart of this album, it is a great purchase. It's time this album and other solid Bruce albums were digitally remastered !

I highly recommend this album to anyone who appreciates high quality music.