ONCE AROUND THE WORLD

Prog rock didn't get much better than this in the 80s. The opening track "Midnight" is lightweight funk-pop, but don't be put off. "Kiss Like Judas" (performed live on "Wogan" as I recall) is proof that prog bands can do pop singles. "Yellow Christian" is a delightful exploration of time signatures, yet still manages to sound commercial. "Rose Marie" is pop metal with a stunningly fast guitar break from Francis Dunnery. "Black December" is strong but less interesting than their earlier recording on the b-side of the "Whole New World" single. The best is yet to come. "Old Man and the Angel" is a magnificent tour-de-force with John Beck's keyboards to the fore. Despite lyrics about a toy shop coming to life during the night(!), "Plastic Dreamer" sports a Holdsworth-esque liquid guitar solo and fine interplay between Beck and Dunnery. The title track rounds things off in style. "Once Around The World" is a "Supper's Ready" for the 80s, full of changes and surprises, with all four band members contributing ideas and playing up-front. This album is evidence that It Bites were the most original prog band of their generation. These guys were no mere Genesis- soundalikes. Here they combine prog with pop, funk and metal in a seamlessly uncontrived way. Only "Midnight" lets this album down, a rather too obvious shot at reaching the pop charts. Buy it.