Amazon.co.uk Although the baroque folk of his 1966 self-titled debut was entirely fashionable, Tim Buckley's nine-year career eventually took him down several eclectic paths. The Dream Belongs To Me features songs from two musically distinct periods in Buckley's career. Subtitled, Rare and Unreleased Recordings 1968/1973 the first six songs were recorded in New York and Hollywood between the releases of Goodbye and Hello (1967) and the jazz-tinged, Happy/Sad (1968). The remaining tracks were from demo sessions for the patchy MOR comeback album, Sefronia (1973) and include the previously unreleased, "The Dream Belongs To Me" and "Falling Timber." Subsequently the former half of this compilation works better as a testament to the evolution of Buckley's lyrical and musical ambitions. Heavily influenced by modern jazz at the time, "Sing a Song For You", "Buzzin' Fly" and "Happy Time" all splice together Buckley's angelic vocals and laconic worldview to a cool vibraphone-heavy accompaniment. The rendition of his much-loved "Song To A Siren" is as stark and stripped down as its final Starsailor version is eerie, stretched-out and avant-garde. "Ashbury Park Version 1" and "Danang" would later become part of the 10 minute epic, "Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)" so it's interesting to hear these faultless, heart-broken paeans in their autonomous states. Unfortunately the latter half of the album represents the fag ends of the Tim Buckley back catalogue. Although is voice is in fine fettle, the material is dreary and uninspired. It's a pity because for 25 minutes The Dream Belongs To Me promises exquisite soul music of the highest order. --Reuben Dessay

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