A TRICK OF MEMORY

Around 1987, 1988, in an interview, Martin Barre declared that a solo album was soon to follow. That album never saw the light of day. Actually, in other interview, Barre stated that when he made music that is capable of being compared with Jethro Tull, he throw the songs away imediately - he wants to build a different persona for his solo career. Hell, Anderson should learn with him.

Thats why he take so long to achieved a solo career, and thats why most people get quite shock when they listen "A Trick of Memory", or any other of his work, for that matter.

About the music itself: Its interesting to notice how Martin can actually rock without never lose his way to finish a song. It should be really difficult to remember the songs to play it live, because nothing seems made up on a rush, everything is meticulous.

"Bug" is a nice start off; "Way Before Your Time" have some play with words and vocals that remind me something of King Crimson's 1980' albums (slightly); "Empty Cafe" is a treat along with "I be thank you"; but the real quality for me hides in the bottom half of the album: its impressive how in the last songs Martin manage to switch from electric to acoustic guitar without losing the feeling of the song and "In the shade of a shadow" is a great close track.

The choise for female vocals with that blues feeling bug me a little, but thats how Martin chases a different persona from JT. In general, it fits.

Great album, lots of good stuff, four stars.

Martin Barre - one of my fav guitar players ever, he made history with Jethro Tull, but he got little recognition when talking about his solo career. I'm gonna review his best solo album, at least to me , outside JT, is his 1994 release named A trick of memory. Well, some of the previous reviewers hawkfanatic - explain exactly how this album is, read below. To my ears is a good one, in old fashion style, not very complex, not an easy listning aswell, some nice moments interluded with some date it ones, but in the end a good release. I like his style, never to complicated but always with a sense of melodic lines on each arrangement. The music goes , from straight rock with some progressive tones, but never stops to have good elemenst and arrangements overall. His guitar tone is great, quite similar in places with what he done in JT but ok, even the vocal parts remind me of JT in some parts, specialy Catfish rising era. Some pieces are with vocals, some choruses make from this A trick of memory a pleasent ride , but only if you know him, and I mean his musical work, both in JT or solo. Some acustic tracks and arrangements , like Bug Bee or Empty Cafe gives a good atmosphere overall. 3.5 stars for sure for me, one of the forgotten albums from a great musicians, the opinions are divided , some said is ok , even great some said is boring and date it, the truth as always is somewhere in the middle. Give it a try, nice and warm record overall, like old times.