This Way Up

Released in 1994, This Way Up represents a pivotal moment in Chris de Burgh's later career, further refining the narrative pop style that made him a global star in the 1980s. While he is often associated with the '80s, this record benefits from the sophisticated digital-analog hybrid production of the mid-90s, resulting in a sound that is exceptionally smooth and hi-fi. The album is notable for its heavy thematic focus on mortality and the afterlife, particularly on tracks like 'Up Here in Heaven' and 'The Son and the Father,' which explore the connection between the living and the dead with a gentle, spiritual touch. It also contains 'The Snows of New York,' a fan favorite that showcases his ability to evoke specific geographic and atmospheric settings. Critically, the album was seen as a solid continuation of his soft-rock legacy, maintaining his massive popularity in Europe and South Africa. It stands as one of his most cohesive 'mood' albums, trading the varied genre-hopping of his youth for a consistent, sentimental atmosphere.