Phillips, Anthony & Andrew Skeet: Seventh Heaven (3CD/1DVD expanded remaster)

Originally issued in 2012, Seventh Heaven continues Cherry Red/Esoteric’s lengthy reissue campaign of the ex-Genesis man Anthony Phillips’ solo output. On what was originally a double disc, 35 track affair the guitarist, keyboard man and composer was flanked by respected TV, film, game and popular music composer and collaborator Andrew Skeet; and as ever with these beautifully packed series (we’re back to a lavish clamshell box here), there are also plenty of extras. In fact Seventh Heaven now stretches to four discs, with the two original platters joined by a DVD featuring a rather splendid 5.1 mix of the entire album, alongside a third CD featuring ten previously unavailable recordings from Phillips’ ever resplendent archives. Where this set does vary from the previous Phillips Esoteric reissues is that while it still arrives with a comprehensive booklet containing information on the main two men involved and the other assembled cast who made it all possible, there are few new thoughts from Phillips himself. The main focus turned to the reworked hymn “Take This Heart� from 1973 on the bonus disc, detailing how the version presented here, co-written by Phillips and Mike Rutherford, came into being for the album Songs For A Modern Church.

The main album itself was lauded at its time of release by Classic FM Radio and that in itself should leave no doubt as to which side of Phillips and Skeet’s work it shines a light on. If you are expecting progressive rock, or indeed the more pastoral acoustic guitar work or even the synth based output that the ex-Genesis man is best known for, then Seventh Heaven may well be something of a voyage of discovery. For those more acquainted with what Phillips provides, the classical themes and breadth of ground covered will be less of a surprise and neither will the shorter format of the pieces, what with Ant being known for his library music and Private Parts & Pieces collections.

This time the shorter formats can stint things somewhat, beautiful, lush string driven ideas, such as “A Richer Earth� or the more piano based “Grand Central�, only beginning to get going before they fade away once again. That said, the overall standard is excellent and it’s easy to get lost in the guitar and strings of “Sojourn�, more pastoral swoon of “Nocturne� or the cold blast of “Winter Song�. However, it may well be the jaunty, multi-part “Old Sarum Suite� that feels the most rounded and realised; the room and time given to the piece’s evolution taking you on a journey that truly stands the test of time.

For many it will be the bonus disc that brings most interest and with ten unreleased pieces that stay within the tone and feel of the main album it doesn’t disappoint, even if it does beg the question: how can pieces such as “As The Sun Rises�, which ebbs the disc into being like a beautiful summer’s day, go unreleased and unnoticed for so long? As ever with Phillips, the track titles marry with the music masterfully, “Steam Train Stories� building and building as the scene rushes past, while “Courtship Dance� is civilised and regal. With “Flight Of Strings� the darting dance you’d expect and “Tender Quintet� pensive and poised, it’s left to the aforementioned “Take This Heart� to close proceedings out in reflective, uplifting and rejoicing tone.

Seventh Heaven may not be for everyone, but undoubtedly this collaboration is yet another reason to declare that Phillips really is one of the UK’s most under appreciated song-smiths of recent years and beyond.

Track Listing
DISC ONE:
1. CREDO IN CANTUS
2. A RICHER EARTH
3. UNDER THE INFINITE SKY
4. GRAND CENTRAL
5. KISSING GATE
6. PASQUINADE
7. RAIN ON SAG HARBOUR
8. ICE MAIDEN
9. RIVER OF LIFE
10. DESERT PASSAGE
11. SEVEN ANCIENT WONDERS
12. DESERT PASSAGE (REPRISE)
13. CIRCLE OF LIGHT
14. FORGOTTEN ANGELS
15. COURTESAN
16. GHOSTS OF NEW YORK
17. SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL
18. CORTEGE

DISC TWO:
1. CREDO IN CANTUS (INSTRUMENTAL)
2. SOJOURN
3. SPEAK OF REMARKABLE THINGS
4. NOCTURNE
5. LONG ROAD HOME
6. THE GOLDEN LEAVES OF FALL
7. CREDO
8. UNDER THE INFINITE SKY (GUITAR ENSEMBLE VERSION)
9. THE STUFF OF DREAMS
10. OLD SARUM SUITE (SARABANDE: SONG OF THE SHIRES, THE FEAST OF THE ICE SAINTS, STORMCHASER, THE PATH TO WAR, THE FLEET ASSEMBLES: RAISING THE STANDARD, SARABANDE: SONG OF THE SHIRES II)
11. FOR ELOISE
12. WINTER SONG
13. GHOSTS OF NEW YORK (PIANO VERSION)
14. DANIEL’S THEME
15. STUDY IN SCARLET
16. THE LIVES OF OTHERS
17. FOREVER ALWAYS

DISC THREE:
1. AS THE SUN RISES (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
2. STEAM TRAIN STORIES (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
3. CAROUSEL OF SECRETS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
4. COURTSHIP DANCE (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
5. FLIGHT OF STRINGS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
6. HEART STRINGS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
7. BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
8. OUR ENGLAND (PRAGUE VERSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
9. TENDER QUINTET (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
10. TAKE THIS HEART (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

DISC FOUR: DVD, SEVENTH HEAVEN: THE 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX
1. CREDO IN CANTUS
2. A RICHER EARTH
3. UNDER THE INFINITE SKY
4. GRAND CENTRAL
5. KISSING GATE
6. PASQUINADE
7. RAIN ON SAG HARBOUR
8. ICE MAIDEN
9. RIVER OF LIFE
10. DESERT PASSAGE
11. SEVEN ANCIENT WONDERS
12. DESERT PASSAGE (REPRISE)
13. CIRCLE OF LIGHT
14. FORGOTTEN ANGELS
15. COURTESAN
16. GHOSTS OF NEW YORK
17. SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL
18. CORTEGE
19. CREDO IN CANTUS (INSTRUMENTAL)
20. SOJOURN
21. SPEAK OF REMARKABLE THINGS
22. NOCTURNE
23. LONG ROAD HOME
24. THE GOLDEN LEAVES OF FALL
25. CREDO
26. UNDER THE INFINITE SKY (GUITAR ENSEMBLE VERSION)
27. THE STUFF OF DREAMS
28. OLD SARUM SUITE (SARABANDE: SONG OF THE SHIRES, THE FEAST OF THE ICE SAINTS, STORMCHASER, THE PATH TO WAR, THE FLEET ASSEMBLES: RAISING THE STANDARD, SARABANDE: SONG OF THE SHIRES II)
29. FOR ELOISE
30. WINTER SONG
31. GHOSTS OF NEW YORK (PIANO VERSION)
32. DANIEL’S THEME
33. STUDY IN SCARLET
34. THE LIVES OF OTHERS
35. FOREVER ALWAYS

Added: January 19th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Seventh Heaven @ Cherry Red
Hits: 1198
Language: english

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