IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK

The band's second album isn't quite as good as the first one, but it's still interesting and even more diverse. This time, they took it a little easier on the psychedelic vibe and explored some different styles.There are lots of unpredictable twists and some classy songwriting here. For me, a bunch of classically-educated young Greek men taking on genres like funk and country is also certainly worth admiring.

The title track is gorgeous. Another reviewer said that "It's Five 0'Clock" is in the same vein as "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", which I'd agree, yet this doesn't prevent the song from having cool hooklines of its own, and thanks to Roussos' vocal power, the refrain is stunning. The song was a big hit in Europe and is one of the best on the album.

"Wake Up" is a bluesy song which features acoustic guitar as well as piano. The verses are actually more in the psycho-folk vein, where I could draw comparisons with the early Bee Gees. 'Take Your Time' introduces some country-westernish guitars and harmonicas. I didn't expect that! It's catchy and quirky.There's also a nice 'goofy drunken fun' bit at the end.

There are a couple of Rousso's ballads here too, which I like a lot, especially 'Annabella'. Vangelis was there to create some visionary organ/Mellotron landscape. The song is quite atmospheric with some sounds of the ocean. "Marie Jolie" is a very cliched European hit of the late sixties, but I also really like it and the vocals are great.

The main single from the album, 'Let Me Love Let Me Live' starts out pretty decently, with a ferocious beat, tasty wah-wah licks and good melody.The ending is a bit too long though. My least favourite is 'Funky Mary' which shows the band's interest in some weird and wild percussive effects. The style is funk but there's next to no guitar. There are phased drums, backwards drums, marimbas, and finally some electric piano. An interesting experimentation.

'Good Times So Fine' is basically catchy cheesy pop. The vocals in the chorus remind me of Micky Dolenz from The Monkees. 'Such A Funny Night' ends the day with a slice of (presumably Greek-influenced) pop, thoroughly irresistible guitar melodies and lots of corny 'la-la-la's. Although this album does suffer from cheesiness sometimes, I do find much of it quite enjoyable and Aphrodite's Child often made it up with a one-of-a-kind approach. Granted, this can be witnessed much better on the band's last - and decisive - recording ("666"). Three and a half stars.