Review: Brush With The Moon (Quill)

The amazing cover artwork by Ben Brain features Ben, Joy Strachan-Brain and Kate McWilliam

#918: Hello ... Hello ... my old friends ... It's great to see you once again! The tragic passing of Ben Brain some three years ago left Joy Strachan-Brain - and his many friends and admirers - initially with an immense sense of grief and loss. However, Ben left us with more than memories and, after some time of formal mourning and reflection, Joy decided, thankfully, to carry on her journeying with Quill whilst ensuring the legacy of song craft and, indeed, art left by Ben would see a full and proper release. The personnel may have changed a little in the ensuing years but the legacy of Ben Brain continues to shine most brightly, judging by the quality and class of Quill's brand new album "Brush With The Moon" (Cherry Red Records #MMPSCD1) released on Monday 1st June.

The addition of Tony Kelsey, Bev Bevan and Matt Davies to the core 'Quilltet' of Joy, Kate McWilliam, Dave Bailey and Tim Tandler has served the band well in their well received theatre shows of late making Quill a potent force on stage. That bond and spirit of togetherness oozes throughout this beautiful album. Consisting of five new songs intermingled with a quintet of songs from their "Life Is Life" and "England" EP's, this record is the perfect platform for Ben's heartfelt, sentimental and patriotic songs and the wide range of Joy's wonderful vocals aided by the meandering violin of Kate McWilliam.

Quill are (l-r): Tony Kelsey, Dave bailey, Matt Davies, Joy Strachan-Brain, Tim Tandler, Kate McWilliam, Bev Bevan

There are many contributors to this impressive collection of tracks but they all fit seamlessly together in this folk tinged Celtic work of art. Fans will perhaps miss "Life Is Life" but love the familiar in "Tumbling Years", "Nine Mile Camp" and the anthemic "England" whilst melting in appreciation at the new in "Quicksilver", "Poppy Fields" and "Wedding Dress". With another album [hopefully] to follow - featuring the classic "Say It Ain't So" - waiting in the wings, "Brush With The Moon", at the very least, whets the appetite for more original recorded Quill material and their fantastic live performances. I have no doubt that Ben Brain would be very proud of this final product, overseen and guided by Joy Strachan-Brain to full fruition. (9/10)

Trax: "Quicksilver" ~ "Tumbling Years" ~ "Schoolyard" ~ "Poppy Fields" ~ "Nine Mile Camp" ~ "England" ~ "Hollywood Blues" ~ "Wedding Dress" ~ "Twister" ~ "Man In White"

"Brush With The Moon" by Quill can be purchased directly from Cherry Red Records, amazon.com, amazon.co.uk (and other reputable vendors) via these links thus:

shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=5057

 www.amazon.co.uk/Brush-Moon-Quill/dp/B00W852R7E

www.amazon.com/Brush-Moon-Quill/dp/B00W852R7E

ELO Beatles Forever (ELOBF) recommends "Brush With The Moon" by Quill to those enlightened folks who also enjoy the music of ELO/Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, 'Brum Beat', The Idle Race, The Move, The Beatles and related artistes.

Until next "Time" in the ELO (and related) Universe ... KJS ... 03-June-2015