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801 is sort of the continuation of Quiet Sun (as the continnuing collab between Manzanera and MacCormick) but this album does not reach the knee level of QS's Mainstream. A star- studded guest list including 10CC members , Mel Collins , Eno , Monkman does not add much since their contributions are not determining.

We are dealing with a sort poppish prog very typical of those years (second half of the 70's) somewhere between Steely Dan and early Alan Parsons Project. As you see, nothing groundbreaking , pleasant enough for background music , but maddeningly shallow for deep investigations. The four tracks on side 1 are your average run-of-the-mill rock but as opposed to Quiet Sun , a real lack of energy is evident mostly due to the guitars (or lack of it, although still present , Manzanera is subdued , his superb fuzzy guitar in QS'S Mainstream being completely gone), and very conventional songwriting. Most of thhe tracks where Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention and 80's Jethro Tull ) drums are rather irritating for I always disliked his drumming. Thankfully , Simon Phillips handles half the tracks and his feeling is so much classier , a lot more feeling and inventiveness being the difference.

Things get a much better start on side 2 with the small Que? instrumental linked to a lenghty City of Light , mostly instrumental and followed by the best track of the album Initial Speed. Unfortunately , the last two tracks return to the first side calibre, giving you a non-satisfied hunger feeling.

Not the best album to pick if you want to discover MacCormick groovy bass lines of Manzanera's superb and inventive guitars.

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