Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light (2008)

Review from BlogCritics Magazine:

On this album, not only does Stewart's voice — distinctive, wispy sort of willow that it is — sound like it hasn't aged a minute despite the decades which have since passed. He's also picked up that whole literary thing right where he left it on those great seventies albums like Past Present And Future and Modern Times.

In an odd sort of way, it's almost like reconnecting with an old friend.

Stewart's sound from those days also remains by and large intact. Tim Renwick, the great guitarist from those old records is apparently gone, but his rather large shoes have been filled quite well (and then some) by former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber. On songs like "Angry Bird," the guitar flourishes are so ultra clean, if you close your eyes you'd almost swear Renwick never left.

Speaking of those songs, Stewart once again instantly transports you back to such far away times and places as post World War II fifties America ["(A Child's View of) The Eisenhower Years"], 1970's pre-Ayatollah Iran ("Shah of Shahs"), and Great Britain circa the late 1890's ("Lord Salisbury").

On this album, Stewart practically recounts the history of the world in a way that would make Mel Brooks proud — from the pre Christian calendar journey to the world's edge of "Hanno The Navigator" to the King's own religious experience in "Elvis at The Wheel."

Talk about your Time Passages. On Sparks Of Ancient Light, Al Stewart is back in peak historical, literate, and most importantly, lyrical form.



Tracklisting:
1. Lord Salisbury (3:27)
2. (A Child's View Of) The Eisenhower Years (3:13)
3. The Ear Of The Night (3:08)
4. Hanno The Navigator (4:17)
5. Shah Of Shahs (5:04)
6. Angry Bird (2:44)
7. The Lonliest Place On The Map (3:33)
8. Sleepwalking (4:31)
9. Football Hero (5:39)
10. Elvis At The Wheel (3:10)
11. Silver Kettle (3:58)
12. Like William Mckinley (4:15)

Total Time: 46:59

Line-Up:
- Al Stewart / vocals, guitar
- Laurence Juber / Acoustic and Electric Guitar
- Jim Cox / Piano, B3
- Domenic Genova / Bass Guitar
- John Ferraro / Drums and Percussion
- Hope Easton / Solo Cello
- Rick Baptist / Trumpet
- Mark Macisso / Harmonica
- Albert Hammond / Backing Vocals
Strings by "The String Section Quartet":
- Eric Gorfain / Violin
- Daphne Chen / Violin
- Leah Katz / Viola
- Richard Dodd / Cello