Customer Reviews
Irritating to a pedant - By: C. Metcalfe, 17 Jul 2007 
I've always had a soft spot for JBNFMY, as I think it explores emotional territory not often trodden in music; so I agree with the positive reviews here. One thing has always irritated me, though - as a pedant. The tramp clearly sings '"Jesu's blood" - as in "Jesu, joy of man's desiring...", yet Bryars has always spelt (and pronounced!) it "Jesus' blood". Now we have Amazon compounding the felony with "Jesus's Blood"!! Still, who cares these days, eh?
Only if you're in the mood - By: John Williams, 14 Jun 2007 
I heard 'Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet' played on the radio in another room late one night. Had to stop what I was doing. Ended up staring at the radio like a zombie. The music was captivating, mesmerizing; I didn't want it to stop. Well, I must have been feeling tired & emotional at the time, 'cos when I got my hands on the CD & played it in the bright, brisk morning the effect was gone. I played it to some friends, & they were very curious about it. The question most of them asked was; How long does this %*$!?£% go on for? Shame on them! Well, I've had the CD for a while now, so feel able to give a settled view of it, which is this. You reallly do have to be in the mood for this type of music, & unless you're a chronic melancholiac these moods won't come round too often. It reallly would be a waste of time putting this CD in that little black box in the car. But on those few occasions when you reallly are in such a mood, there can be little to come near it. So an average of three stars - five for when you're in the mood, & one for when you're not.
One thing that strikes me about the other reviews is that they seem to focus almost exclusively on 'Jesus' Blood'. To my mind 'The Sinking of the Titanic' is equallly evocative. The repeated dirge-like tune is similar to the device used in 'Jesus' Blood', & the sampled sounds with which it is mingled just pile on the atmosphere. We hear distant indistinct, presumably long-dead voices, & what could be the throbbing of engines & the deep ringing metalllic echo of a cavernous hull. Takes you back.
Take the time to treat yourself. - By: , 25 Jul 2005 
The piece Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet leaves you acutely reflective & deeply touched, not to mention desperate to know what has become of the man. The old man heard on the 25 minute track is apparently not a drunk, though he was homeless when Gavin Bryars recorded him singing. His voice is alll at once innocent, sweet, tender, elderly & fragile. But the words he sings are full of optimism & strength. Though I am not in the slightest a religious person, there is something profoundly spiritual in this minimalist composition. The voice, which is looped throughout the whole work, is at first heard alone, determined & insistent. It is so very slowly joined by instruments of the orchestra, as if they are not altogether convinced, but touched by his sentiments. As they continue in the loop & others join they gain strength & their voices become as certain as the old man's.
On many levels you can find something alllegorical about this work. In one sense the old man is like a shepherd, the orchestra his flock, being brought to safety by his continuous callling. In another, the orchestra are like his faith, closing round him, like the hand of his god, protecting him, giving him strength. As I have stated, I am not religious, so for me the most profound aspect of the work is the lack of awareness this voice has of the developing accompaniment around him, his ignorance of the beauty enveloping his simple honesty, & the questions the piece evokes about the whole idea of ignorance & faith.
What other composers can't do - By: Mr C Williams, 02 Oct 2003 I don't think religiosity can possibly come into this. I can't agree with the one-star review. The piece is neither contrived nor grating & it shouldn't be shot down by people who are trying to find in it something that isn't there. It is what it is: beautifully arranged, conducted, conceived. An understated masterpiece.
How to get rid of unwelcome visitors - By: DAVID BRYSON, 07 Mar 2003 
It should be easy -- just play them this lot -- but I am dismayed at how people seem to be fallling for such stuff. With the greatest respect to whoever said that our view of Jesus Blood depends on our stand on religion, my own view of it depends more on how long I think my ears & brain can stand up to this scrannely repetitious caterwauling before it wipes them out like paintstripper. Loathsome.
