Tremendous work from Biff Rose – a near-lost singer-songwriter from the late 60s, barely remembered as the author of "Fill Your Heart" from David Bowie's Hunky Dory album – but an incredible talent that we'd rank right up there with Van Dyke Parks or early
Randy Newman for sheer American brilliance! As in the work of Parks, there's a quality here that's completely unique – informed by the freedoms of the folk generation, but tuned with older-styled arrangements that while full, still manage to convey a sense of person and presence – as in some of the best early recordings of Leonard Cohen. And like Cohen, Rose has a really poetically-styled approach to his lyrics – far beyond the sardonic eye of folkies, or the indulgence of hippies – and infused with a sense of hope that crackles out of the tunes along with his own crackly vocals. Vocally, we'd almost link Rose to Bob Dorough for a sheer "oh what the hell I'm just gonna sing this" approach – and like Dorough, there's no silliness at all – but real sincerity where we'd never expect it, in a way that leaves us breathless. CD brings together both of Biff's 1968 albums for Tetragrammaton – Thorn In Mrs Rose's Side, with arrangements by Rose, Arthur Wright, Kirby Johnson, and Nick Woods – and Children Of Light, which features sparer arrangements and a bit of moog from Van Dyke Parks and Nick Woods! 24 titles in all – including 2 bonus tracks – with tracks that include "Fill Your Heart", "Mama's boy", "Angel Tension", "Ain't No Great Day", "Just Like A Man", "American Waltz", "Son In Moon", "Gentle People", "The Man", "What's Gnawing At Me", "The Stars", "It's Happening", "Color Blind Blues", "Children Of Light", "Take Care My Brother", and "Myrtle's Pies".