Zero She Flies - AL STEWART***

My Enemies Have Sweet Voices/A Small Fruit Song/Gethsemane Again/Burbling/Electric Los Angeles Sunset/Manuscript/Black Hill/Anna/Room Of Roots/Zero She Flies

Singer-songwriter Al Stewart has been described as the troubadour of bed-sit land. His Zero She Flies album lives up to this reputation, with tales of romance, that are sometimes personal and autobiographical. (UK:40)

“This is dominated by acoustic guitar, featuring relatively straightforward production that has aged quite well. Only five tracks are fully developed songs, but all of them are good, and two Manuscript and Gethsemane Again are among the best songs Stewart ever recorded. The guitar playing is outstanding throughout, and the lyrics represent a huge leap from his previous work, with much more of a narrative and historical flavour.”

“Narrative tales of romance and experience, sometimes third-person and sometimes autobiographical, set the mood, complemented by mild folk-rock arrangements and Stewart’s warm yet bemused voice. A few placid folk guitar instrumentals break up the involved, lengthy vocal tracks.”

“A nice album much in the vein of his later, more well-known work though perhaps without as much of the epic feel, with largely shorter tunes and without the same sort of lyrical intensity and story telling. I very much enjoy its innocent charm and Al's in excellent voice.”

“This is a curious slice of late 60s English folk. Al Stewart later found success with a different formula of slick 70s rock. He is certainly an acquired taste and this is no exception. However, I think fans of late '60s folk and pretty guitar work in general will be impressed.”

“There is lots of lyrical growth compared to earlier recordings in evidence here, and there are some fine instrumentals, which showcase infectious rhythms of acoustic guitar. And for those looking for a foreshadowing of things to come, the album features his first foray into a historical theme, the beautiful Manuscript, which masterfully blends memories of Stewart's grandmother as a young girl on a beach in England with historical vignettes from the First World War.”