Duncan Browne

"Streets of Fire" 1979





















Duncan Browne's second late-'70s album was even better than its predecessor, or at least the first half of it was -- the music on side one more easily accommodates his melodies and a rocking beat, and the influence of progressive rock is largely muted, subsumed into Tony Hymas' synthesizer work. Browne wrote some of the prettiest music of his career (and that is saying something) for this album's first side, and as a producer he knew exactly how to get the most out of it, bringing in saxman Dick Morrisey for "Fallen Angel"; his guitar playing also achieved new heights of virtuosity on the riveting title cut, an instrumental that, at times, resembles a coherent jam by the mid-'70s-era King Crimson. Side two is slightly less engaging, as though he ran out of really first-rate material, and has fewer memorable melodies. Reissued on CD in Japan in late 2000. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide