KOWTOW

The LP version of this album has two contrasting sides. On the one hand, there are five pretty basic rock tracks, on the other are three much more structure and melodic prog ones. The album was originally recorded as a demo for EMI records, but the label backed out of the deal before it could be released. This resulted in band's own label Toff Records being formed, this being its first release, catalogue number PEND1.

Clive Nolan had only just arrived in the band when this album was recorded (completing the long serving classic line up), so his contribution is mostly limited to providing keyboard layers on which the tracks are based, and wearing cool dark glasses on the sleeve. The song writing is dominated by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett, who also found time to get a nice perm for his sleeve photo. Bassist Peter Gee contributes the music for a couple of the tracks, but was apparently away buying a nice hat when the rest of the album was composed! (I should mention drummer Fudge Smith too, who apparently used the same hair dresser as Barrett).

The album opens with a couple of decent but unremarkable rock numbers ("The mask" and ""Time for a change") before we get our first taste of the band's slower big sounding ballad style song in "I walk the rope". The track includes some fine sax playing by guest Julian Siegal. "Solid heart" reverts to an upbeat, rather commercial sound with a jittering electronic rhythm. The sax returns to introduce "2AM", which opens as a smoochy, downbeat song, but soon becomes another of the mid-paced ballads. Incidentally, the LP version does not include "Saved by you", presumably for reasons of space, and the track order is different.

"Total recall" kicks off the second side of the album, Nolan adding some colourful piano sounds to a more progressive but slightly wandering piece. "The haunting" offers the closest idea of the direction the band will take on all their future albums, Barrett's guitar work here being far bolder than on the rest of the album. The track has a fine (neo) prog structure, while perhaps lacking the maturity of sound which would develop rapidly on subsequent releases. The closing title track also has a more intricate structure, and credible guitar work. I find it is one of those songs which grows on you, only truly revealing itself after a number of listens.

In all, "Kowtow" was clearly a transitional album for Pendragon. It was designed to make an impression on EMI records, an objective it achieved. Fate conspired against the band though in terms of EMI, but it was not all bad news as the intervening years since have proved. Not the band's best album by any means, but a creditable effort, with some definite highlights.

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