This is the first studio album from the Strawbs in ten years. It features Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and newcomer Brian Willoughby who joined the group in 1979. The songs are acoustic re-workings of classic Strawbs tracks ... more »including, 'Ghosts', 'Tears and Paven' and 'The Golden Salamander'. The album was recorded in July 2001. 14 tracks.« less
This is the first studio album from the Strawbs in ten years. It features Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and newcomer Brian Willoughby who joined the group in 1979. The songs are acoustic re-workings of classic Strawbs tracks including, 'Ghosts', 'Tears and Paven' and 'The Golden Salamander'. The album was recorded in July 2001. 14 tracks.
CD Reviews
Astonishing
The Headhunter | Lebanon, NJ United States | 04/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're reading reviews of this CD, you are likely a Strawbs fan from way back. If that's the case, and you like acoustic guitar, you'll love this CD. I'm frankly astonished. Acoustic versions of songs done originally with electric instruments and full orchestration are usually pretty pathetic, even if they are well arranged. The fullness of the sound is almost always lost, and the missing percussion leaves the music sounding hollow.Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby have pulled off a sound that I've never heard accomplished on acoustic guitars before. The lush, full sound of the original Strawbs tunes is all here. The two Daves' voices have a new, rich timbre. Cousins' voice retains that sweet, emotional rasp, and Lamberts' voice still has its sharp edge.But the magic is in the guitar playing. Cousins' tunes have never been simple. Between time and key changes and various tunings, he has always challenged the ear and delivered powerful songs. The arrangements respect the complexity of the music, and keyboard and bass parts are resolved masterfully by these guitarists. It's easy to forget there's no drummer on any tune. (A couple of tracks have a small string section.) It's also easy to forget there's not a full band playing here - you just get mesmerized by these three guitars.If you want to really enjoy what's going on, twist your balance knob back and forth to hear what each guitarist is doing on each channel. You'll wonder how these guys did the arrangements, and how Cousins formulated such intricate tunes to begin with. "Ghosts", for my money, is better in this rendition than it was on the original record. "Remembering/When We Were Young" has always been a favorite of mine thanks to John Hawken's haunting mellotron. I still can't believe the feel of that sound could have been translated to guitars - but they pull it off with aplomb. "Tears & Pavan", which opens the set, takes you right back. Makes you want to put on the original, because you think you ARE hearing the original. (I still can't figure out how Lambert gets those bends and slides to sustain... he must be using something to help, but for the life of me I can't tell.)I'm blown away. This CD is on a lot at my house, in my office, and in my truck. But the magic continued a week after I got it. I've never seen the Strawbs live, but always wished I had. This CD seemed to be a nice consolation. I just found out they're playing three blocks from the house I grew up in next week. Kinda makes you wonder. I'll be there. If you can't get to one of their Spring 2003 US shows, you'll just have to live with this CD. Which may be enough."
What a shame more people don't know of the Strawbs
A. R. Riebau | Alexandria, VA United States | 12/14/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Strawbs have made some of the most beautiful recordings in popular music - Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams, From the Witchwood - all just excellent. After all the many years they have made this new CD and guess what -- amazing once again! The three "Acoustic Strawbs" are on this CD have taken the old classics and made them new again, in the loveliest way. The arrangements are superb and the playing is really just beyond compare. It is heartening to see these three not only still playing, but also playing better than ever. Dave Cousins is a remarkable composer. Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby are guitarists of the highest rank. This CD is a real gem. Vote for the continuation of Strawbs with your purchase of this rewarding work!"
Good songs revisited
Duane Leach | 11/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a treat this CD is! Great acoustic versions of some truly memorable songs. Dave Cousins' voice has held up well, and it sounds very good on this selection of songs. I'm glad that he has kept various versions of The Strawbs going through the years. This is a good example of his music's versatility, as the older songs hold up well. The musicianship is just what you would expect of these three - superb. Dave Lambert's 'Inside Your Hell Tonight' is truly beautiful, though the title might put you off. My personal favorite, at least right now, is 'Tears And Pavan', which is also one of my all-time favorites, in its original version, of any Strawbs song. If you are a fan of the Strawbs this CD is a must. If you simply like good acoustic music with fine lyrics this is worth the money."
This is a MUST BUY album - simply superb!
David Lusher | London England | 11/14/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album features acoustic reworkings of some Strawbs classics performed by Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby. The musicianship is just exquisite, with close harmonies and really good arrangements that work well. Highlights include "Tears and Pavan", "Down By The Sea" and "Benedictus". But there is not a weak track on this album and the whole project hangs together well. These guys can really write, sing and perform."
Wonderfully Depressing!
Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 02/10/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After recently picking up the Strawbs' newest CD (Deja Fou) and finding it to my liking, I decided to gradually work my way back and pick up some other Strawbs CDs that have been issued since I was last interested in them way back in the '70s. So I settled first on Baroque and Roll since I rather liked the idea of hearing some old favorites stripped down to their bare essences.
Overall, this is a pretty decent CD. I read the reviews and have no idea why the unsigned "music fan" even bothered to buy the CD. Had he no idea what the Strawbs are about? Monotonous with inane lyrics? The music is wonderfully depressing, not at all monotonous! As for the lyrics, they may be cryptic and allusive, but they are hardly inane.
The CD begins strongly with an excellent rendition of Tears and Pavan. Some may consider it a stretch, but the guitar work on that and on Remembering is highly evocative of the mournful style of the Argentine folk legend, Atahualpa Yupanqui. My favorites are the aforementioned two songs, Ghosts, There Will Come the Day, Down By the Sea, and Benedictus. There are a couple of weak songs, the weakest of which is Inside Your Hell Tonight, but thankfully they are few.
The acoustic Strawbs trio is ably backed by the Wrecking Crew on strings. If you like Dave Cousins' writing and his voice, there is no apparent reason not to like Baroque and Roll. Check it out."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1