Time for a site update, I guess..

Those of you who subscribe, monitor or actively participate in the Starsailor Yahoo group may have seen a recent post about me writing up a review on Lee Underwood's 'Phantom Light'. I'm really not sure if I am worthy of the job but I'll do my best to write about it. 

First, I think Lee deserves massive appreciation from the Tim Buckley community. We owe Lee, not only out of the skilled contribution that he made to Tim's music but also what he added to Tim's life, which I have very little doubt assisted Tim to reach the places he visited with his music.  Additionally, Lee has graced us with what I consider to be a wonderfully authored book 'Blue Melody' detailing anecdotes of his time with Tim.

Lee has also contributed a lot in area's that many not be aware of.

He occasionally participates in the Starsailor Yahoo group and is (in my personal experience) very welcoming to those people that seek him out from the Buckley community. He has assisted Adrie Meijer at times in his compilation of the 'Tim Buckley Songbook', a great compilation of lyrics and guitar tabs that Adrie has put together for almost every album Tim ever made.

Lee's personal website www.leeunderwood.net displays much of his own personal explorations, writing and feelings. My own communications with Lee have allowed me to ask questions I have pondered for some 5 years.. Lee is not skimp in his replies and communications, in fact the opposite in that he is rather prolific. I couldn't ever imagine a boring conversation with Lee.

There is a song on the CD called "Santa Fe Remembered" and it has a certain section where over the top of the continuous layer of rythmic 'strumming', Lee plays a melody which reminds me of a song but no matter how much I listen and re-listen, I can't figure out which song it is.

Lee has described the type of music as "Space Music" (as opposed to 'New Age") though I'm not sure if that really puts a fitting image into my head. Meditative? yes.. at times and at other times it can be as powerful and emotive as Beethoven's Piano Sonata's in their most painful moments. From my experience it's incomparable to any other type of solo piano I have heard. Here is what the inside sleeve has to say about it:

"Improvised live, each piece flows naturally, without artifice, like mountain streamwater. It seems to me the most radical music of our day expresses loving quietude. Sonic serenity in its many shades----soft, loud, slow, fast, gentle, firm, muted, or infused with resplendent light----dares to offer an ambrosial atmosphere that renews love, courage, compassion, and creativity.”

The music has many shades, colours and textures just as described above. I urge you to email Lee for a copy but don’t expect it to be a continuation of Tim Buckley..  that is something it is not..