BeauBonfires of the SoulCherry Red RecordsAvailable on download sites from May 8thI reckon I began the review of the new music in 2024 from Beau, The Last Confessions of a Saboteur, with this tale. When I was a student in 1972 I spent a great deal of my time and money in the local vinyl shop. There I came across an LP which I could not resist when the hippy behind the counter played me a track or two, Creation from the singer Beau. It also had the benefit of being on John Peel’s Dandelion label which these days is collectable. Reader don’t bother to offer any price. It’s not for sale. I have hundreds of LPs, so many that my wife has been heard to say, ‘Do you really need to buy anymore?’ The LP from 1972 by Beau lives with my singer songwriter records along with Dylan, Cohen, John Prine, Alan Hull, Andy White and others. It is not a whim that I put certain records there. They have to be of a quality. That really says a lot about Beau. He is an excellent writer of song. And the way he performs them shows his importance on words. I edit poetry anthologies with different universities in Europe. Timiᶊoara university in Romania is one of these. I provide the poetry from different poets. The professor, myself, student translator, and poet meet to discuss the poem for translation. The poems have to be of a quality. This year Beau was one of these. His words read as poetry, not simply song lyrics. He is an excellent poet.In performance he is superb. The quality of his 12 string guitar playing has to be heard to be believed. Sounds a bit corny, but true. As I write I’ve reach the 49 minute mark the final track, The Glass We Knew, where guitar is plucked and all strings hit. Beautifully played. Sung, with feeling and memorable melody. A moving final track to an excellent collection of songs. I’m wiping away a tear.John Eliot: Poet Editor Reviewer
