Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas: Songs to No One 1991-1992

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating * * *)


The late Jeff Buckley has now released far more albums since his untimely 1997 death than during his brief time in the spotlight in the wake of debut album Grace.


This might seem one to toss on the pile with the mounting number of live collections, but its 11 tracks - dating from when Buckley was partnered with former Captain Beefheart guitarist Lucas before striking out alone- are just occasionally as gripping as Grace was on first hearing.


The 11 tracks are taken from radio studio sessions and practice room and live tapes. They tend to show how the generation-gap partnership, who met at a tribute show to Jeff's legendary singer-songwriter father Tim, started Buckley jnr on his cosmic path with the elder musician playing a sort of Jimmy Page to his young charge's Robert Plant.


Included are a couple of earlier versions of Grace tracks (including two of the title track) and a rhythm-section-free demo version of Mojo Pin which makes you wonder if the subsequent version required its rock bombast. Elsewhere, we get Buckley as crooning bluesman (Song to No One, Satisfied Mind, Harem Man) and blue-eyed soul guy (She is Free which comes with an overdubbed band and brass section).


It's one for Buckley loyalists, yes, but while the rest of his posthumous releases exist to stoke the legend, this one actually helps to illuminate it.

Label:(Knitting Factory/ Import)