SMILE

Brian Wilson came to London to play his great lost masterpiece. We were reminded by a band member how all of this music, by turns beautiful, fragile and exuberant, had poured from this man's soul during an intensely creative period. Waves of music, brimming over with harmonies running playfully round the triumphant main melody left us spellbound.

Poor Brian sat in the middle of his finely honed triumph, bewildered and alone. Like the birthday child willing himself to join in, but not knowing exactly how, his body swaying, hands moving to and fro in a vain imitation of a dance, face set as grim as a stone.

review of Smile at RFH, London