Sunburst and Snowblind

AMG Review of Sunburst and Snowblind

Ned Raggett
All Music Guide

Released shortly after the majestic Head Over Heels album, Sunburst remakes one of that album's songs, the gorgeous rush of "Sugar Hiccup." The mock choir effect which Guthrie would employ even more fully on later songs becomes even more prominent, his own performance more striking and beautiful. Fraser's vocals change little, being just as fantastic as on the earlier cut, though she does add a touch more extra singing at points. The rest of the songs are of equal quality, each distinct in their own way. "From the Flagstones" begins with a lovely flanged guitar, a prominent drum pattern carrying the song as a whole. Fraser's singing throughout is wonderful, practically turning cartwheels at points. "Hitherto" moves at a slightly faster pace, Fraser's singing building upward on his line of the verse to a shimmering guitar line; Guthrie's main countermelody is also grand, a few simple descending notes that sound just perfect. "Because of Whirl-Jack" wraps everything up with the fastest song of the bunch, reminiscent of the pace of earlier songs like "Feathers-Oar-Blades" and "In Our Angelhood," but with a lighter air thanks to prominent acoustic guitar and piano.