Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Long After The Fire turns to embers, we can still resurrect the feeling and the emotions felt as the shadows thrown against walls and our souls make us feel the comfort of warm memories, of connecting us to a past where myths and magic were concocted and spoken of in reverential tones, and where those that whispered of images and spirits could be seen as the perceptive wise people of our times.
Such truth must come from more than one voice for it to carry weight to the unbelieving, the sayers of refusal that nothing can come of evolution in an artists or those that refuse to mere conjuring tricks and illusionary tactics to manipulate the feelings of time; harmony is the elemental force at play, polished, gentle, forceful, it is effect that the smoke carries after the fire has seemingly been put out.
The harmony between Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill is intimately drawn, a mutual respect, and a dedication to the songs created for the duo’s album, Long After The Fire, is evident and alluring; the sense of peace weaved through each track is responsive and full of entanglement of the spirits.
To bring together the belief of what might be considered two different avenues of music and blend them together in such a way is impossibly addictive, but through the piercing musical observation held by The Bangles’ Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill who has been the drummer and vocalist for the Beach Boys for more than two decades, the set of the Americana pulse written by John’s late brothers Barry and Bill, is one of honour and memory; those personal fires burning brighter than ever.
Across tracks such as the heartbreaking statement opener of The Fool Is The Last One To Know, the superbly driven Come To Me, the emotional backdrop of Don’t Look Back and A Thousand Times, and the resonating drama of Embers, such is the reveal of the mutual respect between the brother and sister-in-law that the music doesn’t just reflect the pair, it burns with genius, the detail of admiration is openly displayed and conscious of the art and family that binds them.
Long After The Fire is a collection of emotional tales wrapped in the ties that bind and the memories long captured by the flames of a rampaging, raging soul that burned brightly, and remains constantly lit. An album of understandably high regard.
Ian D. Hall