Customer Reviews

Voice of Love

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When I ordered this cd I thought I was taking a very high risk chance. I thought there was a high probability that this was going to be a dud. I asked myself what the guy who did the song Fire and all those crazy experimnets with the group Kingdom Come could possibly be doing 40 years later that would be worthwhile. Whoaa, what a pleasant, no ecstatic surprise when I played this disc for the first time. What a magnificent secret hidden gem this album is. Actually I received the new Tom Jones comeback in the mail the same day. Arthur Brown absolutely blows Tom Jones away. Forget Arthurs old stuff. This is a totally different incarnation of sound. In fact, his music doesn't sound like anyone else I've ever heard. He has come up with a formula that definately works and is in a category all by itself. Arthur plays acoustic guitar, and every string instrument known to man, and maybe some not before dreamed of seem to be on this album. His voice is strong and can get very very deep. He sings That's How Strong My Love Is with soulful pain, others with melodious melancholy and he can break hearts with the beauty and gentility of his lyrics. I can't think of a genre that exactly fits, but I picture him as a minstral of rock leading a gypsy or bohemian caravan across the land trying to change the world for the better with songs on love. Sometime love between two people, but most often universal love, spiritual love. There is one song where we do get a touch of the old Arthur Brown where he explores the pull of the negative force in Devils Grip. This cd is exellently produced, the song arrangements are beautiful, the lyrics are first rate, the backround singers are superb. Arthur Brown sings straightforward festive rock. He does still do a little screaming, but ask not for whom Arthur Brown screams, he screams for your soul. I can't help think about how at anytime in the last 30 plus years Arthur Brown could have delighted us with his amazing voice and excellent songwriting that was not fully utilized in the crazy world days. This is undefinable perfection, more than worth the 30 plus years wait. So go talking and walking with angels in your mind, grow wings and soar across the heavens with the Amazing world of Arthur Brown. My other cds are gathering dust as I play this one over and over. With each listen I hear and appreciate new things that I had previously missed. Really, give this one a try, it is an overlooked masterpiece.

Without a doubt, this latest Arthur Brown release is a far cry from his 1968 'The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown' (see my review) - introducing the (then) new artist to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic to his smash hit "Fire". I was somewhat amazed at what, NOW forty years later, Mr. Brown is still capable of doing. 'Voice' seems to find Arthur Brown reinventing himself. His vocals on this CD are almost like the last four decades never passed by. Tracks here I was most impressed with were the uplifting "Love Is The Spirit", "Gypsies", the beautifully done title cut "The Voice Of Love", "All The Bells" (good violin playing) and the insane "Devil's Grip". Line-up: Brown-acoustic guitar & vocals, Nik Pynn-bass, Rick Patten-guitar and Mark St. John-drums & percussion. Front cover turns out to be a 12-page fold-out of a piece of Brown's hand drawn art work + some personal notes and comments of his thoughts. If you would like to see a live concert of Brown as a truly entertaining front man, be sure to check out the Hawkwind DVD - 'In Concert - Out Of The Shadows' from a late 2002 gig of theirs where Brown steps out to sing lead on at least six HW classics. A definite should-have.