Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
By the time we understand, it becomes too late to enjoy what should be one of carefree learning and play, filled with unconditional love and surrounded by those who only want the best for us; never again to we feel The Freedom Of Our Childhood Hearts, the best we can do is too make sure those we bring into the world are blessed with such fortune.
The world though is a cold brutal place, only occasionally are we gifted such powers in which to inspire beauty into existence and where child, and adult alike to benefit from its presence; art of any kind is the pulse, the heartbeat behind such stirrings of the unconditional, and in Barry Briercliffe’s latest album, The Freedom Of Our Childhood Hearts is one of great and important qualified pleasure.
With Liverpool’s Eddie Cooney playing a huge part in the development of the album via incredibly expressive lyrics, the structure and sound of each track is superbly maintained at all times, and it is in this sense of balance between instrument and the human mind that unreserved dignity and presence is captured at its most alluring.
Mr. Briercliffe’s own presence in Liverpool’s music heartland is well established, his and Mr. Cooney’s observations, their deep trust of each other’s perspective is unchallenged, and it is through this unrestricted viewpoint that tracks such as The Back Of My Mind, Photographs, the wonderful Tell Me How You Feel, the tremendous opener Stop The Sea and the album title track of The Freedom Of Our Childhood Hearts combine to make this new offering so detailed, almost extroverted and a candid demonstration of life and its secrets, a unfurled moment of genius.
It is with satisfaction and a gathering of cool to witness Barry Briercliffe once more tackle the studio album with such sincerity, an album of charm and beauty, one that really has framed the integral passions of working alongside another human being in spirited comradeship.
The Freedom Of Our Childhood Hearts is uninhibited and reflective, a drama of several parts given life and nourished throughout.
Ian D. Hall