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Sky - The Great Balloon Race  CD (album) cover

THE GREAT BALLOON RACE

Sky

 

Eclectic Prog

3.35 | 34 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

russellk
Prog Reviewer
3 stars Exit John Williams.

Without the classical guitar maestro, few expected SKY to soldier on. But they did, and I for one am glad. This album was a pleasant surprise: it moves away from SKY's increasingly irrelevant instrumental formula, incorporating new instruments (synthesiser, flute and pan pipes, for example), and some interesting songs. The opener, 'Desperate for your Love' is a lazy, slow-building number unlike anything else SKY did, with a spoken vocal, and they almost pull it off. The rest of the first side and much of the second is well-played but ultimately unmemorable.

The power of this record comes from two pieces: the achingly beautiful 'Caldando' and the following rocker 'Roleystone'. These pieces, along with the first and title track, could have formed the basis for a major departure for SKY, had they but shown the courage to completely abandon their tried and true formula.

You don't need this record, but if you see it lying around somewhere, dust it off and slap it on your turntable. It's worth an hour of your time.

russellk | 3/5 |

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