Zero She Flies

Narrative tales of romance and experience, sometimes third-person and sometimes autobiographical, set the mood, complemented by mild folk-rock arrangements and Stewart’s warm yet bemused voice.

Al Stewart’s third album wasn’t much different from the territory he had claimed, with reasonable success, on his prior effort, Love Chronicles. Narrative tales of romance and experience, sometimes third-person and sometimes autobiographical, set the mood, complemented by mild folk-rock arrangements and Stewart’s warm yet bemused voice. A few placid folk guitar instrumentals break up the involved, lengthy vocal tracks. The best cut is “Electric Los Angeles Sunset,” which puts Stewart’s eye for locale-based storytelling to more forceful use than it had ever been previously heard, detailing the grim side of the city rather than its glamorous one. “Manuscript” was also an important work in its focus upon past history and its effects on various characters, an approach that would within a few years become prevalent in Stewart’s work. Trevor Lucas and Gerry Conway of Fotheringay were among the backup players.
– Richie Unterberger, Allmusic –

Track listing

01. My Enemies Have Sweet Voices
02. A Small Fruit Song
03. Gethsemane, Again
04. Burbling
05. Electric Los Angeles Sunset
06. Manuscript
07. Black Hill
08. Anna
09. Room of Roots
10. Zero She Flies

Personnel

Al Stewart – vocals, acoustic guitar
Trevor Lucas – guitar
George Hultgreen – guitar
Gerry Conway – drums
Mike Woods – guitar
Larry Steele – bass
Tim Hinckley – keyboards
Duffy Power – vocals
Louis Cennamo – bass
Peter Gavin – drums
Produced by Roy Guest
Recorded at Sound Techniques, London, engineer Jerry Boys.