antiMusic.com: Downes Braide Association

Downes Braide Association - Skyscraper Souls

by Kevin Wierzbicki

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This is the third outing for the Downes Braide Association, commonly referred to as DBA and featuring Geoffrey Downes of Yes, Asia and the Buggles fame and singer/songwriter/producer Chris Braide who has written songs for the likes of Beyonce, Britney Spears, Sia and many others. The material here is prog-flavored pop rock with the title cut, featuring vocals by B-52s star Kate Pierson, fitting into the Asia oeuvre nicely as do "Glacier Girl" and "Angel on Your Shoulder." The sentiment of "Skin Deep" could be applied to lots of life's situations, but Braide presents the song as a gentle but pointed warning to musicians who work their way up the ladder recklessly without thought to what's going to happen on the way down. "Darker Times," near album's end, surprises with superb Beach Boys-style harmonies to close out the song. Marc Almond (Soft Cell) and Andy Partridge (XTC) are among the other luminaries appearing on this sublime effort. Get it here.

Downes Braide Association - Skyscraper Souls
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