AS IN ALL HIS WORK
Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 09/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You can't ask for more than Robin Williamson has given us. Originally released in 1976 this music has stayed with me for decades, and sounds so much the better for all these years. While for the most part his work with The Incredible String band remained in an acoustic style, shunning conventional kit drum rhythm parts, his recordings with the Merry Band employed electric instruments and drums to great effect. Think of some of the finer moments of Fairport Convention and you'll have a very good idea of what's going on here. "Journey's Edge", which I believe was the third and final release under the Merry Band name, ranges in style and content from the beautifully serious "Mythic Times" to the slapstick cover of " Maharajah of Mogador" -- a song from the 1940s you'd expect to hear played by Viv Stanshall and The Bonzo Dog Band, ala "Ali Baba's Camel" from "Tadpoles" -- with great grace, ease, confidence and style.Williamson and the Merry Band are brilliant across the breadth of all this material, delivering virtuoso performances that are wonderfully and thoughtfully arranged as well as finely-detailed. As always, Robin's lyrics are wonderful to read and hear performed and display wonderful cadences: "Put on your red dress, red as a red geranium..." Set amid brightly played harps and fiddles, some terrific bass guitar work and smart drumming, I can't think of a more easily likeable and warm example of Robin Williamson's profound skill. If he had ever made a conscious decision to record more commercially oriented music, "Journey's Edge" is it. And even if that were true, the music displays all the appeal you'd expect from a more accessible approach, without a hint of compromise."
The California flavor
H. Wigman | The Netherlands | 07/05/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When the ISB broke down, Robin headed for California to team up with the Merry Band, which proved to be a wonderful and powerful combination. Of the 3 studio albums they produced this "Journey's edge" is farthest away from Robin's other work, I think, maybe in a reaction to get away from the ISB as far as he could. The result is really good: the playing is wonderful, each song has its own voice and the overall atmosphere of the album is warm and, if you like, sunny. We hear hints of things to come in songs like "The tune I hear so well" or "Out on the water" while adaptations like the "Maharajah" are really funny. The musical prowess of the Merry Band comes to the fore in all songs, but especially in songs like "Voices of the Barbary Coast".In retrospect, I think this album has aged much better than "American Stonehenge", and while it differs greatly from the Merry Band's masterpiece "Glint at the Kindling" it certainly deserves a prominent place in your ISB/Williamson collection."
A MASTERPIECE
Jennifer Gilbert | Lynn Haven, FL United States | 06/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a huge (but new) fan of the Incredible String Band, I began searching for Robin's solo work. Journey's End was one of the first that i found, and it blew me away. I've turned several people on to Mr. Williamson's work with this album. Every song captivates with musical complexity, brilliant lyrics. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!"
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1
