Search - Stewart & Gaskin :: Spin

Worth a "Spin"

Dennis Petticoffer | Orange, CA United States | 05/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Every so often an album blindsides me with it's beauty. This is one of those. I was expecting it to be a side project of the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart and a new vocal partner. Instead, this is a different Dave Stewart (the one from Canterbury prog-rock cult band, Hatfield & the North). Barbara Gaskin is a real revelation: she has one of the purest voices I've ever heard and the lush multi-track vocal mixes are truly intoxicating.Any band that can segue from "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" to "Louie Louie" in five minutes (and make it seem like a natural progression) gets my respect. Stewart & Gaskin have a real knack for transforming cover tunes into distinctive songs (often melding divergent melodies into fascinating hybrids). Joni Mitchell's "Amelia" is nearly as great as Joni's version. Stewart also writes some great originals. The best cut on the album, "Your Lucky Star," is a tribute to English producer, Joe Meek, featuring a "Telstar" guitar. Gaskin's poignant vocal serves up a stunning epitaph to a talented producer who committed suicide in relative obscurity. "Hey Joe," she sings. "you didn't have to lose your soul/Nothing mends a bullet hole." The album ends with some fine Stewart originals: "The 60's Never Die" (name checking Ringo, Hendrix, and Timothy Leary) and "Star Blind" (a heavenly ballad). Surprise yourself: buy this album (and all their other hard-to-find but great albums)."

One Of The Best Ever!

Russ Bellinger | Bradenton, Florida USA | 04/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this CD to be absolutely amazing. I have always been a fan of Dave Stewart's work with Bill Bruford and when he formed this band with Barbara Gaskin (who sings so great) he really hit his mark. Unfortunately the work of this group went unrecognized as with so much great prog music. The thing is that this was not strictly a prog record and incorporated alot of other great sounds as well. Spiritual, creative, inspiring and beautiful work that should have been continued. What is Dave doing now?"

Clever Arrangements, Haunting Vocals

07/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album not to miss. It's a creative mix of covers with very hip arrangements allowing Dave's technology to be tempered by the warm humanity of Barbara's voice. If I had to knock it, I'd say it didn't have enough rough edges, yet Eight Miles High is a brilliant rethinking of the Byrds' classic. This and others have a way of staying with you, and you'll find yourself humming, if not singing along outright."