All the albums I have spoken about I have been listening to for a long time. Some I have been listening to for nearly my entire life. But I first heard this one roughly two months ago.
Let's get this over with- yes, I do mean Chris "The Lady In Red" De Burgh. For many people that song (along with "Don't Pay the Ferryman") are the only things they will know about him. He is oh so much more.
I have been listening to Chris for nearly 20 years. His music is hard to come by down here in Australia- indeed most of his albums I had to get off ebay (including this one). Chris' ability to not only tell a story but sell a story go right back to when he first started making music in the mid-seventies. Whether he was telling stories about a Spanish Train, detailing the fall of Saladdin during the Crusades or simply about the pain of being separated from his loved ones through distance he always told it with a strength and belief that sucked you in.
In more recent years De Burgh struggled with a record company that wanted him to do "Lady In Red II" and many of his albums, though containing wonderful songs, never quite got that personal feeling and often the message seemed forced. Then in 2004 he released "Road To Freedom" on his own label. Whilst better than his more recent efforts, it it seemed like he was biding time until he could really tell the stories he wanted to tell. That was saved for "The Storyman".
It's not an autobiographical album but the stories he tells are as honest and heartfelt as they have ever been. Accompanying the cd is a booklet of stories outlining each song and reading them helps appreciate them even more. That being said, the music more than speaks for itself.
Accompanied by an orchestra on a number of tracks, the production values are second to none.
The album opens with an overture of what will eventually be the song "The Storyman" before lauching into the vibrant "One World". "Leningrad"-about an old Russian woman reflecting on the hardships of her life- perfectly captures the feel of Russia and a longing for a simpler time. We then move to the middle east for "My Father's Eyes" which tells the story of a young man trying to live up to his father's expectations. "The Grace Of A Dancer" tells the story of young man searching for his love who was driven out of town by a mob when they found out she was pregnant.
My absolute favourite comes next- "Spirit". Set against a backing of African music it tells of an African chief's final message to his people before he dies. I want that song played at my funeral. It's beautiful, poignant and uplifting. "The Shadow Of The Mountain" is a love story set against the backdrop of ancient Pompeii and then comes "Raging Storm"- a wonderful duet about a father bidding farewell to his adopted daughter. It's heartbreaking and truly beautifully sung by both De Burgh and Krystyna Myles. "The Mirror Of The Soul" is a 9 minute epic telling a tale about corrupt church officials who try to hoodwink a village with a crystal they pretend is holy. "The Sweetest Kiss Of All" is a wonderul song about a pair of actors playing in "Romeo And Juliet" who, like the characters they portray, fall in love despite their cultural differences. the ending is just beautiful. To bring the whole thing back home De Burgh finally turns the spotlight on himself with the title track. He mentions over 30 of his past songs and still manages to make a coherent narrative about the forces that drive him. However the story is not quite over as "My Father's Eyes" finishes the album- this time in a duet form with Hani Hussein singing the second verse in hebrew.
Throughout the whole album De Burgh is in absolute fine form singing like it was all on the line and always pushing himself to convey his message. It's something he succeeds at magnificently.
This is an album to listen to in the dark and just to imagine the stories being played out. It's a glorious tribute to 30 years in the business. Long may it continue.
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