Edmund O'Connor, Chapman, issue 107, Summer 2005

Alison Brackenbury reflects on life and schooldays in Bricks and Ballads. While mulling over old science lessions is not exactly original, there is spareness and sublety here. 'Behind Lansdown Crescent' and 'Green Finch' are object-lessons in rhythm and how to create an entire atmosphere in few words. The 'Hatherley Lane School 1878-2001' sequence is less about school, more about the passing of time, the destruction/ construction of landscapes and memory. Sad, wonderful, inspiring, uneven but well worth a few shekels.