The Fireman - 1994 - Strawberries, Oceans,Ships, Forest

"Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" is the first of two albums which Paul McCartney released under the pseudonym The Fireman. Essentially, it is a collaboration between McCartney and a musician/remixer/engineer who simply calls himself Youth. The fruits of this album came about during a remix session for what was then Paul's latest album "Off The Ground". Instead of properly remixing that album's title track, Youth and McCartney created something entirely different. Upon listening to this CD, you would be hard-pressed to think that this music was done by McCartney. It sounds like nothing he has done before. Also, apart from the song titles and publishing credits, there is no other liner notes in the CD cover. McCartney was definitely undercover on this one.
Musically, the album is quite interesting and trance-inducing. It contains nine lengthy variations on a single theme set to a moderately paced drum rhythm. This is a far cry from "Silly Love Songs" or "Band on The Run". However, once you get used to the strange sounds and plodding rhythms, this CD can become an excellent piece of background music. It's simplistic and stays out of the way. This album is very much in the same style as modern composer Steve Reich especially with his composition entitled "Drumming". Both feature the same idea of trance-like rhythms with uncompilcated melodic and harmonic patterns.
All in all, The Fireman McCartney's "Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" is an excellent CD. It's also now extremely rare, out-of-print and very expensive. However, if you're a Paul McCartney collector, this CD is a must.
By Louie Bourland (Nashville TN via Garden Grove CA) - (amazon.com)

1 Transpiritual Stomp - 9:01
2 Trans Lunar Rising - 9:09
3 Transcrystaline - 8:39
4 Pure Trance - 8:40
5 Arizona Light - 8:39
6 Celtic Stomp - 8:34
7 Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest - 8:07
8 4 4 4 - 7:35
9 Sunrise Mix - 8:16