Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
To appreciate the Muse, you must admit that you adore them, for whatever stirs the passion of your craft makes not only your soul unique, but your voice rage against the most powerful tornado of indifference that might come your way as others blow to knock you off your steam driven journey and exploration.
To live without a Muse, no matter the face the place upon the guardian angel’s torso, is surely an intolerable feeling, it offers only a bland expression, a weight of unimaginable tediousness that makes a world suffer and the artist weak, flat, and lacklustre in their offerings to the world.
It may be a Dog Eat Dog World, one where few find themselves lauded for their artistry and dogged approach to illuminating the human potential, and far too often the featureless and uninspired somehow are bowed down to as if they have become royalty of this small blue spinning sphere, but with the Muse on show, with time taken between time’s pursuits, a prominence of extra art is placed before the group of interested passers by and granted the merit of the occasion it fully deserves.
Doris Brendel speaks of albums between albums, of those she finds being inspired by between the full ensemble of music, just her and an idea; it is to be seen in such instances that the entire group of nine muses comes purposely down from Mount Helicon and whisper in the ears of the gifted and offers them a view of something tantalising and in full unadulterated colour.
Dog Eat Dog World is the result of that interaction with the denizens of that Greek world, and in this terrifically enjoyable recording, Doris Brendel becomes a Muse for others, and it is one of glory, the infinite expression of joy, and of tales that bite hard on the soul.
Across tracks such as Better Safe Than Sorry, the lament of time in I Was 18 Yesterday, Life is Not Fair, the darkened swirls of thought that surround Getting Angry Again, and the brilliance of the experimental in The Serpent, Doris Brendel showcases exactly the prowess of imagination required to stay on top of the game and show the Muse the courtesy and love they require in payment for their services.
A simmering and exotic release of unrestrained joy, even in the darkness the light of the album shines through with honour.
Ian D. Hall