A QUESTION OF BALANCE

"A Question of Balance" brings the Moody Blues back to Earth, and in more way than one. Following the incredible "To our Children's Children's Children" album which dealed with space, this album's concept deals with planet Earth. The music is also more stripped down as well. The Moodies playing reflects the concept, and things seem more "Earthbound" when compared to their previous four works. Luckily there still is a good amount of Mellotron and even a couple of songs with some synth ("How is it (We are here)" and "Melancholy Man"). Even though we've all heard "Question" many times before, it's a great song that I never tire of. "How is it (We are here)" is another underrated gem from Mike Pinder that should not be overlooked. "Don't You Feel Small" is unlike anything else they have ever done before, and once again shows the unique approach that drummer Graeme Edge has to his songs. "Minstrel's Song" I view as being one of the weaker songs in the Moodies "Core Seven" string of albums, and it keeps this from getting a five star rating. It's not exactly a bad song, and it's sort of different as well, it just doesn't interest me a whole lot. "Dawning is the Day" is an absolutely beautiful song, and is something we'd expect from Justin Hayward. One of the other well known tracks from "Balance" is Pinder's "Melancholy Man". This is a song about Albert Einstein, and is very brooding. It features wonderful keyboards and a great tormented vocal from Pinder. I still don't find it as dark as Pinder's "When You're a Free Man" from their "Seventh Sojourn" album. Closing the album is the touching and glorious "The Balance" which was co-written by Thomas and Edge. It features creative spoken-word bits, majestic Mellotron and spine-tingling harmony that we have come to expect from these guys. If you know The Moody Blues, then you'll know what to expect from this album even though the group is heading into another direction here. "A Question of Balance" is still highly reccomended.