String of Light and Other Stories - The recent Anthony Phillips reissues examined by Alan Hewitt.

The reissue campaign by Esoteric Records of Anthony’s back catalogue is nearing completion with only the magisterial Tarka yet to be reissued and that, I am told, is due in October of this year.

In the meantime we have been treated to the reissue of the bulk of Anthony’s catalogue with the most recent editions being Slow Dance, Strings Of Light and Gypsy Suite.

Slow Dance, as any of you who have been reading TWR for some time will know, is probably my favourite album by Anthony. A superb instrumental effort with cinematic overtones and sweep which only Anthony and a handful of other composers can achieve. In fact, I have said on more than one occasion that this is a soundtrack in waiting - one day it will grace a film! Originally reissued as a three disc set with the third disc containing the Surround Sound mix of the album, this has been omitted from the most recent reissue. Either way, if you have not already heard this album, DO SO IMMEDIATELY, you will not regret it.

Of more recent vintage, 2019’s Strings Of Light was Ant’s first acoustic guitar album for ten years. Well worth the wait however, as this one contains superb examples of Ant’s craft as an acoustic guitarist, evocative and descriptive by turns but also imbued with his very own particular brand of humour too. Reissued again as a two disc set, this should also find a place in any serious music fan’s collection.

The most recent of the reissues is that of Gypsy Suite which was released earlier this year. Like so much of Ant’s music, this suite has had a long gestation period beginning in the early 1970’s as the excellent essay accompanying the release by Ant’s archivist, Jon Danny makes clear. It lay on the lees for many years before finally emerging in 1995. The Gypsy Suite is the sort of campfire music you would enjoy after a long walk in the countryside beautifully executed by both Ant and Harry Williamson.

Accompanying it are the Tarka demos originally released on cassette by the long defunct Ottersongs Music. It is fascinating to hear the evolution of the pieces that eventually grew into the wonderful Tarka album. Here we have them given a fresh remastering polish and graced with a “new” track, the previously unreleased “The Hunt” which is a solo piano version by Ant. Music to refresh the mind and soul.