ANTHONY PHILLIPS & HARRY WILLIAMSON: TARKA

An album that was years in the making, or rather, years before it saw the light of day - it was certainly worth the wait. Anthony collaborates here with Harry Williamson (Williamson co-wrote, played guitars and keyboards) whose father authored the book about Tarka the otter. I'm not familiar with Williamson's other work, so I cant tell how much he detracted from this album! But it seems to me, based on my knowledge of Ant's work, that his collaboration with Williamson is what keeps this album from being PERFECT. This could easily have been a work as beautiful and grand as SLOW DANCE, but I fear that when Ant works with lesser lights, the outcome is often less than stellar. With rich orchestration - from a real live orchestra, and great themes and musical ideas, this album captures the bucolic mood of the great outdoors, both land and sea. This is "A Day in the Life" of an otter - if anyone can figure out what the hell that is. But I'm sure the otters really dig this album. So will you if you give it a listen: guitars, keyboards, and traditional orchestra - all put at the service of the brilliant Anthony Phillips. It's sure to please and inspire. Ant was astute enough to add a piece written only by him. As he has done so many times before ("Anthem 1984", "Sleepfall/Geese Fly West") he takes you on a musical journey to the corner of your soul. With beautiful synthesizers and a melody played on a lilting, meloncholic oboe, track 4, "The Anthem" is classic Phillips, and classic Prog rock. In fact, that song alone is what brings this collaboration album from 3.5 stars up to 4!