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Those who have never heard of Dave Cousins' legendary prog/folk band Strawbs will probably unfortunately never hear of any of Dave Cousins' solo work, either, unless they have a musically knowledgeable friend to guide them. But those of us who were and are Strawbs fans recognize that it is Dave Cousins who is the heart and soul of Strawbs and it is his muse and his singular vocal style that animates them still.
On Duochrome, Dave Cousins intimately performs his songs old and new, sometimes solo, and sometimes accompanied by fiddle virtuoso Ian Cutler. He strips each song to its essential core, offering them to his fans as Abel offered his best to God. Though you have to be in the right mood to truly appreciate what is here, you will be amply rewarded when you reserve judgment until that time comes.
I enjoy Duochrome most when I listen with no distractions. My favorites are a mixture of old standards and newer delights. To me, the best cuts are Never Take Sweets From A Stranger, The Hangman and the Papist, Beat the Retreat, a moving take on Ringing Down the Years, the obligatory Blue Angel and Beside the Rio Grande.
If you are an old fan of the 70s Strawbs who just stumbled into this listing by chance, you have a lot to catch up with. Some of Strawbs best work, both as a band and through the medium of Dave Cousins side projects, has been released in the last decade. But if you have been with them their entire career, you will certainly want to add this touch of an unplugged Dave Cousins to your collection. You'll be glad you did.
