“Good Times” Magazine – June/July 2009

The following review of "Edge Of The Dark" has appeared in the June/July issue of "Good Times" magazine in Germany.

BEAU - EDGE OF THE DARK
Kein Geringerer als John Peel nahm John Trevor Midgley alias Beau 1968 für Dandelion Records unter Vertrag, der mal als “Englands Antwort auf Phil Ochs” galt, mal in die Schublade “auf den Spuren von Ralph McTell und Donovan” gesteckt. Nach zwei Alben (BEAU, 1969, CREATION, 1971) machte sich Beau an seine dritte LP HIGH MASS, die er aber nie vollendete. Die damals eingespielten fünf Songs sind jetzt erstmals zu hören, ebenso 13 weitere bis 1985 entstandene Aufnahmen. Sie lassen zum einen erkennen, dass der Brite ein meisterhafter Gitarrist (auf der Zwölfsaitigen), subtil intonierender Sänger und starker Songschmied war, der mit wenigen Mitteln eindringliche Folksongs hinzuzaubern verstand, die auch unterschwellige Bluesrockmomente aufwiesen. Eine wertvolle Wiederentdeckung!

Unfortunately, my German's not what it should be! I think the last words - "Eine wertvolle Wiederentdeckung!" - can be translated as "A valuable rediscovery!" (which is nice!), but that's about as far as I go.

If anyone can shed a little light, it'll be good to hear from you.

EDIT: (11/6/09)

Thanks to Pete in Cheshire for the following translation:

No less a person than John Peel gave John Trevor Midgley, alias Beau, who was sometimes considered as "England's answer to Phil Ochs" and at times categorised as having traces of Ralph McTell and Donovan, a contract for Dandelion records in 1968. After two albums (Beau 1969, Creation 1971) Beau made a third LP High Mass which he however never completed. The five completed songs are to be heard now for the first time, just as 13 further originals up to 1985 are included. They show on the one hand that the Briton was a masterful guitarist on the twelve string, a subtly nuanced singer and a strong songsmith who, with few means, (?) put enchantment into penetrating (or impressive) folksongs, which also point to underlying Blues/Rock moments. A valuable rediscovery!