SPACE SHANTY

If there was ever an album that completely epitomized a one hit wonder, than this would be it. The first and only release from Canterbury Scene band Khan works off the ever distinguishable sound of the genre while retaining its own unique flair. Like most Canterbury Scene bands, the sound is graced with tons of keyboards and jazzy and melodic moments a like. Therefore, fans of the genre, especially Caravan, will find no surprises here. In fact, dare I say that this album is better than anything Caravan has ever done, including the magnificent 'In the Land of Gray and Pink.' Perhaps it is the album's superior focus on melody, in addition to some very atmospheric passages and heavier edge which make this quite the listening excursion. Case in point is the song 'Stranded,' a seemingly simple, yet melodically powerful song.

Besides this, the album truly doesn't have any real standout, if only for the strength of every song on the album, making this a very solid and consistent listen from beginning to end. Each track is a small adventure, as the structures are diverse, but don't meander too much to lose excitement.

Space Shanty, simply said, is a must have for Canterbury fans, and general proggers alike. The balance between melody, intensity, and atmosphere is hard to achieve, but these guys nail it.

8/10