Second Chapter ()

With five successful albums with Fleetwood Mac under his belt (including the exemplary "Then Play On"), Danny departed in late '72 to further explore the soulful, melodic mannerisms that brightened Mac tracks such as "Jigsaw Puzzle Blues", "My Dream", "Dragonfly", "Earl Grey", and "Sunny Side of Heaven". "Second Chapter" represents his initial effort in specifically that direction.

This record is by turns, both a dissapointment as well as a revelation. While completely lacking the punch imparted by the Fleetwood/ McVie rhythmn section, the musicians, especially keyboardist Paul Raymond (Chicken Shack, Savoy Brown, UFO) ably assist Kirwan in realizing his vision. His ideas run the gamut of post-Beatles popadelia, never exceeding (nor, alas, approaching) the bounds of proper melodic decorum. Everything feels like some kind of late spring dream from a Branch Cabell novel. This record is obviously a purposeful retreat from the fast-lane dynamic and atmosphere that nearly killed him in Fleetwood Mac. Sadly, the liquid Lowell Fulsome/ Django Reinhart guitar that ignited the music in Mac is no longer there to balance with the otherwise superb songcraft. I'm sure Danny was focusing on songs at this point in his career for some personal reason. Nor is there a hint of the floating, hypnotic instrumentals that graced his Mac peroid.

All in all, "Second Chapter" is an accurate metaphor for it's creator. A fragile, lilting voice plaintively reflecting the outer garments of a highly gifted, yet, ultimately damaged soul, yet never resorting to pathos or indulging in self-pitiful mantras whilist doing so. Recommended, albeit not highly.