The Waterboys – In A Special Place, The Piano Demos for This Is The Sea – Chrysalis – 5099909841024 - *****

To escape ‘The Big Music', The Waterboys' bombastic mix of Gnostic Christianity and Dylanesque drama, Mike Scott turned to folk for 1988's Fisherman's Blues.
But Scott had claimed Steve Reich's serial minimalism influenced 1985's era defining album This Is The Sea, and these solo piano demos duly reveal him beating out percussive, unembellished two chord mantras on chiming ivories, whilst declaiming the Blakean visions that were later to struggle with big guitars and big production.

This Is The Sea's secret heart revives, and even the hoary Whole Of The Moon shines anew.

(26/6/11)