KOWTOW

A nice album in the neo-prog vein, with more than one attempt at a more commercial sound. The first part of the album is very much pop-music with some catchy R&B melodies. The additional saxophone makes the music sound more full and a bit bluesy at times.

1. Saved By You (3:58) A pop-rock song with a nice hook and some fine rock guitar play. 2. The Mask (4:01) again a fairly simple, but nice melodie line and a great singalong chorus. 3. Time For A Change (3:56) great pop-song, catchy hook with shades of Aha's Take on me sometimes 4. I Walk The Rope (4:47) Again a popish rock song, with a bluesy feel to it, especialy in the bass-play. The additional saxophone gives it an extra dimension. 5. 2 AM (4:14) A "lazy"saxophone and slow atmospheric keyboards, with some power in the vocals, nice song.

6. Total Recall (7:00) starting slow, building up to a nice rock song and than fading away again. It's OK but nothing fancy. 7. The Haunting (10:40) Like the title suggests a more dark song (for Pendragon standarts) good atmosphere and some nice guitars. It reminds me a bit of the later "And we'll go hunting dear" very powerfull at times. 8. Solid Heart (4:20) No, not a good song, it adds nothing. 9. Kowtow (8:56) This could have been a good song, but somewhere along the line they lost it. Mainly on the production. It just sounds flat.

Pendragon tried to make a more commercially appealing album, they succeeded on the first half, but failed to cash in on their talent with a poor second half. A nice album for the fans, and for people who like simple melodic rock, but not a good album to start with. Better try The Window of Life, or later Pendragon albums first.