Opaline by Jef Bear

and what of the title of the disc,opaline?

"It was originally just a title to one of the songs on the

disc (track 1) but when I was sitting around,trying to

actually to find something to call this thing,I decided it

would be a good title for the entire project as well." he

continues.. "It was taken from a poem by Ernest

Dowson,titled 'Absinthia Taetra' about one mans absinthe

experience,...and I really just like the imagery in it."

he points me to his computer screen,and calls up a website

which has the poem on it ---

Absinthia Taetra

by Ernest Dowson

Green changed to white, emerald to opal;

nothing was changed.

The man let the water trickle gentle into his glass,

and as the green clouded,

a mist fell from his mind.

Then he drank opaline.

Memories and terrors beset him.

The past tore after him like a panther, and

through the blackness of the present he

saw the luminous tiger eyes of things to be.

But he drank opaline.

And that obscure night of the soul,

and the valley of humiliation,through

which he stumbled, were forgotten.

He saw blue vistas of undiscovered countries,

high prospects and a quiet, carressing sea.

The past shed its perfume over him,

today held his hand as if it were a little child,

and tomorrow shone like a white star;

nothing was changed.

He drank opaline.

The man had known the obscure night of the soul,

and lay even now in the valley of humiliation;

and the tiger menace of the things to be was red in the skies.

But for a little while he had forgotten.

Green changed to white, emerald to opal;

nothing was changed.

The music itself on opaline is a melodic,driving hard rock

exploration that any fan of guitar-rock will enjoy.

the discs only quiet moments are provided in 2 improv

pieces, 'Haven' a song about "the feeling of returning

home,or anyplace safe and familiar after a long absence."

states Bear. and 'L'il One' written about watching a friends

daughter grow from infant to young adulthood over the years.

all in all,Opaline is a great listening experience,and I'm

not just saying that because Jef Bear is a friend....or

because he is sitting across from me with a silly grin

asking "would you like another absinthe?"

....yes,.....yes I would.

---- D. Lister 2005

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