Jim Kirkwood Middle Earth Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Where Shadows Lie Pt 2')

This is a re-release of a three-album collection Jim composed fifteen years ago. They were originally on cassette only but have now been cleaned up for their first CD release. They have been out of print for many years. Those Kirkwood fans who knew of them have been desperate to get hold of them (as well as the rest of his vast early catalogue) and indeed I myself have been trying to get Jim to release them again. At last Jim has relented and has agreed to these superb recordings seeing the light of day once again.

The First Instalment on the Trilogy is 'Where Shadows Lie'. Part 1 begins with a lovely but ominous melody and thick dark pads. Through this first one sequence (a high register one) then a second bass one, then a third more urgent one bounce forward one after another. The melody comes back even more insistent than before. It is if an army is waiting for the order to charge, energy and apprehension just being kept under control. A new sequence starts up combining with yet another fantastic lead line. We are now on the move excitement and even euphoria replacing the earlier apprehension as the force moves forward causing the very ground to shake. Drums then come in and the excitement spills over in an orgy of sword wielding mayhem- wonderful stuff! Things now calm down, another simply wonderful combination of melodies weaving around the sound of gently running water. Fanfares strike up as deep drums begin to roll. We get a short break on a windswept moor land then the sound of hundreds of charging horses can be heard, ethereal melodic pads floating over the top. More drums thunder from the speakers as laser sharp lead lines flash and we engage in another session of triumphant berserk blood letting! 'Where Shadows Lie Part 2' commences with crashing metal, crows and manic, demonic laughing. A swirling rotor blade of a sequence starts up and we are again dashing over the hills at top speed. Again the most amazing feeling of tension but also excitement is built up. Drums come crashing forward and yet another wonderful lead flashes through it all. We then, very suddenly, descend to silence. A slow funeral type rhythm can be heard over a very low rumbling drone. Then a much brighter and optimistic sequence shines through. This is joined by another which keeps coming and going like a wave. The energy level slowly begins to build once more before descending to a lovely mournful and somewhat brooding section giving us a brief time to catch our breath before we once again charge up the sequences for the finale, and what a wonderful blast it is too.

'King of The Golden Hall' was the middle instalment of the trilogy. Part 1 begins with epic massed orchestral sounds as if it was accompanying the opening credits to some Hollywood blockbuster. Seagulls can momentarily be heard, to be replaced by a lovely synth flute. So far not a crushed skull in site but you just know it can't stay that way for long. One of the hallmarks of Jim's early works was beaten anvil type percussion and it makes an entrance here, increasing the tension slightly. Pads with a vocal quality to them float in the ether, soon to be accompanied by a slow rhythm / sequence combination. Leads then start to come thick and fast- one amazingly superb one after another combining to create a feeling of immense euphoria- this is so good it would have been a tragedy if we hadn't heard it again. These are 'tunes' you can remember but they are also immensely powerful not just pretty melodies. A horse cries out and the sequences begin to thunder again, the melodic equivalent to lightning blasting the Earth asunder. The energy level increases all the time until the end. We now move onto the second disc for Part 2. A cacophony of noise explodes through the air then we descend into the dark depths, little sound effects mixing with subterranean drones. This is brooding, menacing stuff. A slow rhythm strikes up then a quite whimsical combination of sequences. It's all rather light and positive, even tender! Surely this can't last for long. Yup, thought so, more menacing swirling sequences surge forward as well as an insistent rhythm. Lead lines call to each other getting more and more urgent in their demands, rushing back into battle mode and revelling in the glory of the fight. We then return to the eerie marshy wastes. We finish with an incredibly infectious lead line and sequence combination that got my whole body moving and hands tapping the table concluding this section on an adrenalin charged high!

The final part of the trilogy 'Urak Hai' is again split into two parts, the first of which has probably the darkest beginning found on this double CD set. It isn't long however before an almost mechanical sounding sequence arrives. It's as if some vast machine is being forced into life. Another brooding 'prepare for battle' type sequence joins it along with ominous melodic stabs. We fairly rattle along until we suddenly return to the darkness. Birdsong emerges and little rays of light shine through. Another rhythm strikes up along with an awesome lead line that increases the pace as we triumphantly career towards the next encounter. Part 2 has the, by now, expected atmospheric beginning out of which percussion, as if weapons are being sharpened, forms the initial structure. Questing sequences surge into being. The oomph level is steadily increased as layer after layer of exciting pulsations are added being welded into place by yet more fantastic lead lines. What a wonderful blistering ten minutes! A few moments of calm are most certainly required and that is what we are given followed by an almost tender little section- so Jim can do delicate! We then finish with a sense of melancholy and even loss.