IN THE CAN

Oh well, my collaborator page says I've given this a rating without a review, which I at least never intended to do! So in order to straighten things up here's a review. Ex-Yes guitarist Peter Banks chose to continue his band without keyboards, though he later admitted having sometimes missed Tony Kaye's participation. He claimed to be able to do it all with his guitar. Certainly a gifted axeman he is too. Anyway, this continues in the same vein as Flash released earlier the same year. Perhaps this should have had a 'hit' as the debut's 'Small Beginnings', but overall it really can't be said that the compositions are weaker and less memorable this time - because they were quite unmemorable to begin with. Both have an emphasis on technical skill and as such are fairly good if unmemorable listening all the way, this slightly less interesting due to the lack of keyboards. Moreover, I don't much enjoy the drum solo 'Stop That Banging'.

Hipgnosis used female bodies in the cover art of the trilogy of Flash albums, first butt, then breast. I'm not blaming the (admittedly cheap) idea itself, but these are clearly among the worst by that team best known for Pink Floyd covers. The music is guitar oriented symphonic prog, three tracks longer than 10 minutes. The early Yes is naturally one comparison, but unfortunately there's none of the fresh gorgeousness of tracks such as 'Starship Trooper'. Still I think the two first Flash albums are better than the two first Yes albums featuring Banks.