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 Paul Stephenson SFR 357.4069.2 Multichannel Hybrid SACD 
We may wistfully revisit our youth — but no-one can ever bring it back. Not even an artist like Paul Stephenson can. Although has an advantage there, because he can transform the vicissitudes of life, losses, disillusionment and the tidemarks of time into art. Even more is being asked of him — because as an artist, he has no choice.While Stephenson's earlier works exude the excitement of “something's gonna happen,” the sweet bird of youth is “on the way to Santiago” — since then, life seems to have taken the artist on the long and rocky road. In the same way, GIRL WITH A MIRROR is darker; more composed, and more reflective — but hope does not desert us. In music and lyrics, Stephenson transforms the undoubtedly more sombre aspects of life, loss, disappointment and disillusionment, into pure poetry, lights up the pastel blue of an Amsterdam sky, and the dark clouds are, ultimately, not the last word. There is maybe a sequel: We can overcome. Blurred though our vision often may be through the vale of tears, we can still be certain that God is right “upstairs,” and that man is, most certainly, not a thing. And, what's more: Paul Stephenson is accompanied — in the true sense of the word — supported by the outstanding musicians whose interaction is intimately interwoven in such a way that the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and the 15 songs of this album already give us a vivid impression of what Paul Stephenson sounds, and feels like, in concert — and what it's like to be there. GIRL WITH A MIRROR: In the mirror of the mermaid-like beauty of the girl featured in the album cover we just read one word: Masterpiece.
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