Far Beyond These Castle Walls

by

Chris de Burgh

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Early Chris de Burgh is very different than his late 1980s and 1990s albums, where he has generally espoused a heavily produced and synthesized adult-contemporary sound. His songwriting has remained strong and his voice beguiling, but the arrangements have often lacked originality.

In the 1970s, however, de Burgh presented himself as a true bard and balladeer. He was a storyteller, and his songs acoustic and/or orchestral, with the occasional rock number thrown in. The strongest of his first five albums are the second (Spanish Train and Other Stories) and the fourth (Crusader), but the others are by no means throwaways.

"Far Beyond These Castle Walls," unavailable as a U.S. release, is Chris de Burgh's debut, with all that implies. He is still very much finding his voice, with his stories and love songs presented in a variety of styles. (Even country/western!) None of the songs are absolutely essential or unforgettable (the one that comes closest, "Satin Green Shutters," is also available on the compilation "Best Moves"), but, with his timeless archetypes and lovely atmospherics, de Burgh is a master of evoking moods. The album is consistently enjoyable despite its unevenness.

If you are unfamiliar with de Burgh, the best comparison for this album is to the quieter tracks on Elton John's first few records, particularly the self-titled one. It's no accident, in fact--the producer/engineer of "Far Beyond These Castle Walls," Robin Geoffrey Cable, was also the engineer on those Elton John records.