THE WORLD'S BEST KEPT SECRET
08/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Virginia Astley is the Ultimate Cult Artiste who actually makes records for her fans.Her outstanding flair for melody puts her in the front ranks of all composers and ALL SHALL BE WELL is the proof.Eight brand new songs and a couple of instrumentals,this is the first new work from Virginia since HOPE IN A DARKENED HEART in I986 and represents her comeback since her self imposed retirement to raise her daughter.In I989 her career began to take off in Japan where the singer is worshipped as a "perfect woman".Possibly her daughter inspired the comeback as the song "My smallest friend" is clearly about her:she joins her mother towards the end in a series of "la la las"."All shall be well",the title song,began life on the sessions for her brother in law Pete Townshend's album "The Iron Man" where she was used as a "technical advisor" and drew his attention to the mediaeval religious poem from "Revelations of Divine Love".Townshend sung the actual words whilst Virginia simplu used the title. "You take me away" is more upbeat than the average Virginia song and "Love's Eloquence" shows a Dylan influence in the words. "Martin",which should really be called "Where have those days gone"? is,like many of her songs,intensley sad. Joining Virginia on "Blue sky white sky" is Kate St.John,her former partner from the Ravishing Beauties of 1982:the music is by Mozart and a first for the artiste as she tended to set other people's words on many an occasion."How I miss you" was first heard as a piano instrumental on a Channel 4 series called "World of Herbs". Finally a pair of instrumentals:"Although I know" was heard in the early 80s as an instrumental called "Astelle 2" on one of her Dad's Library records,this being the famous Edwin Astley.And a reprise of "My smallest friend". With this album Virginia confirms her classical and pastoral intents,here stronger than ever"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1