ONCE AROUND THE WORLD

Despite the presence of a couple of longer tracks, "Once around the world" is still very much based in 80's pop rock. Of the nine tracks, six are of a similar simplistic structure. The performances are exemplary, and the songs certainly well above average, but prog it ain't.

The melodies can sometime sound very similar to those of LEVEL 42, this being particularly apparent on "Hunting the whale" which closely resembles "Lessons in love". The message of the song is along the lines of Yes' "Don't kill the whale" the lyrics asking "why can't you leave him alone..".

The opening couple of tracks, "Midnight" and "Kiss like Judas" have strong melodies and harmonic vocals. Even when we get to "Yellow Christian", a slower 6 minute song, the overriding impression is of an enhanced rock ballad. Certainly the instrumentation has a slightly neo-prog feel, with hints of the type of music made by IQ and JADIS. The 9½ minute "Old man and the angel" is really in two distinct parts, the pop element being followed by a lengthy development of the theme.

The final track, which gives the album its title, runs to almost 15 minutes. The song is by far the bands most progressive, although it remains completely accessible. Various instrumental sequences, including frequent synthesiser flourishes, punctuate the melodic storytelling of A day in the life. The lyrics include a section which goes "The Scots have invaded our land again. . . take a piece of turf home to show their wives", an apparent reference to a great football victory at Wembley(!). The track closes with a fine building instrumental refrain.

The three longer more elaborately structured pieces here cannot disguise that fact that this is primarily a sophisticated pop prog album. It is nevertheless a hugely enjoyable piece of work, enhanced by those three standout tracks.

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