Road To Freedom: A review by Chris High.

It's been three years since the last album, Timing Is Everything, was released and a lot has happened to the singer in the interim; a successful tour, the formation of his own production company - Ferryman Productions - and, of course, the crowning of his daughter as the most beautiful woman in the world, to name but three examples of what Chris de Burgh can look back on with some considerable degree of pride and satisfaction.

And largely, these feelings have been mirrored with The Road To Freedom. It has a very retrospective feel to it, as though the singer / songwriter has taken time out to look back over his career - and life -has counted his blessings for the good things and has wished a better resolution to the bad that he sees.

It is a very deep album, with an emphasis placed on the natural strength of his voice and his ability to write powerful, emotive lyrics and music. There is also a stronger reliance on what he became known for - story telling.

There is also a sense of his saying 'this is an album for me - it's what I want to say' given that this is his first offering with the self established FP. This is shown by the decision to start the album off with a music only track, the beautifully composed When Winter Comes, which could be said to be an overture to what is to follow.

The second - immediate - track, The Road To Freedom, is poignant and very powerful, emotive to the point of distraction. So clearly defined are the lyrics that the listener cannot help but visualise the scenes with an almost film like clarity in ones mind. The third track is separated, just, only by virtue of a slight break and Snow Is Falling is all the better for it, though co-joining the three tracks would not have diminished its power at all. The description of bodies lying beneath a snow-covered earth, in a mass grave and calling out for discovery is striking in its resonance and brave in its composition.

Is all of this sounding a little downbeat? Well Chris manages to raise the spirits with track four, The Words "I Love You". This is the first single from the album and is a further indication of de Burgh looking back without reservation. He is aware of the mistakes he - and we all - make, that can be made right by three simple words to say, but which are very difficult to prove successfully. It is also an indication of how religious and racial tolerance must be practiced for the benefit of a safer world.

Songbird is a tribute to Eva Cassidy which exemplifies Chris' admiration for the late singer, yet a song that sounds a little clunky, with its reliance upon lyrics from some of the songs upon which she became known. Chris is such a strong lyricist in his own right that this stands out as to being almost lazy. Whereas Five Past Dreams, a clever homage to his biggest hit, The Lady In Red, is thoughtfully and imaginatively constructed - especially with the way the backing harmonies are constructed and woven into the song.

Here For You is a further 'sequel' to a former favourite, the 1986 tune Rosanna. It is a father, having watched his daughter grow up, is now forced to see her fly the nest, literally. The tune, lyrics and overall feeling make this song the strongest on the album for many different reasons, but none less than for its integral sincerity towards his own daughter, who appears here singing backing vocals.

A return to the grating reliance on a Spanish / Latin American influenced music - as was shown on She Must Have Known on the last album - should be left to those best qualified to practice its principals, whereas Rose Of England sees de Burgh return to the fine story telling, interpretive balladeer form that we know and admire so much. It doesn't matter that it's a rose coloured spectacles view, the melody and writing carry the theme beautifully. It wouldn't be too much of an exaggeration to suggest that this could, soon, rival The Tower in the hearts of the many who love that song.

Both The Journey and Read My Name offer the necessary hope that such an album must offer. The acoustic guitar on The Journey lends itself perfectly to the understated lead breaks and soft percussion playing, whilst the acrostic symbolism of the last three lines of Read My Name show that he believes that anything is possible, should it be wanted enough.

Overall, The Road To Freedom is a strong album to rival any of its predecessors. It is also, in some ways, a brave departure from the norm of a Chris de Burgh album in the manner in which its running order has been set, despite earlier reservations. It's also clear that it was produced with the 'Road To Freedom'solo tour at the forefront of his mind.
Best Wishes,
Chris !!

Available to purchase online from    www.cdeb.net

Listen to Chris de Burgh talk about The Road To Freedom album here

The Road To Freedom - news update 2005:
Chris de Burgh sold more than 100,000 records of his album 'The Road to Freedom' in Germany and was honoured with 'Gold'. The album reached position # 5 in the top 100 album-charts 2004, de Burghs best chart position during the last decade. 'The Road to Freedom' was altogether 18 weeks in the German charts. Also his Solo-tour was sold out.

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