WATERLOO LILY

As rumour has it, back in the 1970s Caravan fans were unhappy about WATERLOO LILY. Supposedly they didn't appreciate the "jazzy new direction" the band had taken, but my guess is they were bored by the unimaginative soloing (led by Steve Miller on keyboards) that dominated the album's first two tracks. The playing there seems hardly better than an average garage band suddenly venturing into jazz-rock. But after the aptly-titled "Nothing at all", everything turns out to be fine. "Songs and Signs", "Aristocracy" and "The world is yours" are as lovely as any of Caravan's shorter pieces. "The love in your eye" is nothing less than a masterpiece. It has one of those dreamy Pye Hastings melodies you would gladly die for, is beautifully orchestrated for strings and features ravishing oboe playing. It segues into the rapid "To catch me a brother", which features one of Jimmy Hastings' inimitable flute solos. After this, even Miller proves that (given an exciting riff) he can come up with a splendid electric piano solo. Caravan collectors, of course, shouldn't be without WATERLOO LILY - unless, perhaps, they already own a compilation featuring "The love in your eye".