For those not in the know, Another World is Brian May’s second full solo album, originally released in 1998 it follows the reissue of his 1992 album Back To The Light in the latest of his Gold Series releases.

While Brian undertook a great deal of the instrumental work himself, his efforts were complimented by a host of talented musicians, including: Cozy Powell and Steve Ferrone on drums; Neil Murray and Ken Taylor on bass; Spike Edney on keyboards; and Jamie Moses on guitar.

The album also features a special turn by Status Quo bandmembers John Edwards (bass), Jeff Rich (drums), and Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt (guitar) on “F.B.I. (Original Ruff Mix With Real Bass And Drums)”.

This sought-after record has long been unavailable in any format. Its timely re-issue in a variety of formats has been supervised by Brian himself, along with co-producer Justin Shirley-Smith, and Kris Fredriksson, long-time Queen art designer Richard Gray, and Grammy Award winner Bob Ludwig, who has newly mastered the entire collection.

Thus the original Another World album is now presented as a 180g heavyweight black vinyl LP in spined sleeve with printed inner bag. Newly re-mastered by Bob Ludwig from the original master tapes.

Side A:
1. Space
2. Business
3. China Belle
4. Why Don’t We Try Again
5. On My Way Up
6. Cyborg

Side B:
1. The Guv’nor
2. Wilderness
3. Slow Down
4. One Rainy Wish
5. All The Way From Memphis
6. Another World

Business, the second song on this excellently crafted Brian May solo album, finds the guitarist recording the type of ferocious hard rock that he became known for with Queen in the early ’70s. With a great pop hook and churning heavy guitars, it’s arguably the best thing he’s done as a solo artist, even today.

The rest of the album doesn’t quite live up to its opening, but it shows May had grown more confident in his singing and in playing balls-to-the-wall hard rock than on 1992’s Back to the Light. Songs like China Belle and The Guv’nor contain enough ’70s-styled bombastic rock to satisfy May’s many fans, while On My Way Up, with its catchy groove and gospel-like backup singers, is irresistible in its unadulterated optimism.

Unfortunately, May does get lost at times, for his ballads tend to come off as a wee bit lackluster compared to the ones he wrote whilst in Queen, but we can forgive him that, given whose vocals the ballads were originally written for back in the day. And whilst the over-the-top metal exercise Cyborg, with its processed vocals, doesn’t click for me personally, it still showcases more than enough searing, free flowing guitar riffs to make us more than happy.

In truth, May is much better sticking to what he knows best; catchy but eccentric hard rock. The album draws near a close with three covers and whilst two of them, including Jimi Hendrix’s One Rainy Wish, do come off as generous bow’s to their lyrical masters, May’s spirited live version of Mott the Hoople’s All the Way From Memphis is absolutely riveting.

“This, dear Listener, is the second release in my “Brian May Gold Series” reissues. To this album, historically my second solo record, we’ve applied the same loving care that we lavished on ‘Back to the Light’ – repolishing and remastering but using the exact original mixes. Originally delivered 24 years ago, ‘Another World’ is now reborn just as it was originally created.” – Brian May, 2022.

When Brian May finished touring his debut solo album, Back to the Light, he began to throw open his doors to fresh possibilities. “I got all these little kinds of commissions and triggers and inspirations from outside,” said Brian, who took ownership of these “triggers” and moulded them into a second solo album in his own image.

Now released as the second strike in Brian’s Gold Series reissues campaign, Another World pays rich, raucous and fully felt testimony to the legendary Queen guitarist and songwriter’s roots and reach: between its expansive energies and immersive craft, the album’s world-class quality rings out.

Driven by the potent drumming of the much-missed Cozy Powell, who tragically passed away prior to the album’s release, Another World is a superlative successor to Back to the Light.

Drawn from many sources of inspiration, the record emerged in June 1998 as an album of roof-raising rock’n’roll and scorching guitar and indelible melodies, plus a couple of impassioned covers.

The album is full of dangerous unguarded feelings and uplift, with guests including Jeff Beck and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins helping to stoke its fires.

Warmly received by the press on its original release in 1998, the album birthed four electric singles in “The Business (Rock on Cozy Mix),” “On My Way Up,” “Another World” and “Why Don’t We Try Again.”

It also ushered Brian and his band out on a hugely successful 42-date tour covering a large swathe of the world and packing out prestigious venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall.

For Brian, Another World upholds the value of the open-door policy he adopted post-Back to the Light. “I travelled a lot of paths to gather all the pieces,” he said. “In order to have something worthwhile for the next Brian May album, I would have to rediscover who I was. I decided to go out and do a lot of playing and open myself up for projects because I didn’t want to make another purely introspective album. I thought I would go out into the world, experience things and rediscover my roots.”

Meticulously restored with mastering by Bob Ludwig, working from the true original mixes for maximum quality, the album will be reissued in multiple formats, including 1-CD and – on 180g heavyweight black vinyl – 1-LP versions.

The 2CD Deluxe set adds Another Disc (mastered by Adam Ayan), while a 2-CD + 1-LP Collector’s Edition includes both CDs and a sky-blue vinyl LP in a 12” lift lid box, complete with 32-page booklet and enamel badge. Queen Online Store exclusives will include picture disc and cassette options.

In his new 2022 liner notes, Brian notes how far we have all travelled since the album’s release in 1998, but also that the exploration feels very appropriate at this time. “It seems perhaps that in 2022 we ARE in Another World,” he writes, “but if it’s not quite the world we asked for, perhaps we can still reach that perfect world… in our dreams. JOIN ME !!!”

Bursting with forceful rock anthems, open-hearted yearning, lush melodies and galvanizing guitar work, Another World sends out a gloriously irresistible invitation to do just that.

Brian May - On My Way Up (Official Video)

Brian May - Another World (Official Video)

Official Purchase Links

Official Brian May Website