Stand Up and Walk

Stand Up and Walk is ex-Ultravox violinist Billy Currie's second solo album. Released in 1990, two years after Transportation, his successful collaboration with Yes guitarist Steve Howe, this album offers a handful of instrumental tracks, in general more introspective (Currie was going through financial problems at the time, losing his house and private recording studio). The violinist also handles viola, acoustic piano, and synthesizers — almost everything, actually. The most notable contribution comes from singer Suzanna Bramson, who added ethereal wordless vocals on five pieces. Worth mentioning is the presence of ex-Ultravox alumni Warren Cann (drums) and Chris Cross (bass) on "Ukraine," a track originally written for Currie's old band. As one could expect, violin and viola are at the heart of Stand Up and Walk, but the music goes beyond mere setups for soloing: Currie is, after all, a melodist. "Change of Heart," with its 3/4 time signature and female vocal samples, gets too close to Enya's worldwide hit "Orinico Flow," leaving the listener uncomfortable. The dance beat in "French Viola" and in "Jam-boree" sound out of place, the latter literally chattering the mood established by the five previous tracks. These mistakes are counterbalanced by beautiful piece like "Stand Up and Walk," "Liberation," and "Irish Widdershins." A 2001 CD reissue on Puzzle includes detailed liner notes by Currie. ~ François Couture, Rovi