R.S.V.P.

Richard Sinclair is one of the best bass players in prog-rock. You can notice his brilliant bass lines in records he made with Caravan, Hatfield & the North or Camel. He is also a very good, underrated singer, but maybe that has not been fully appreciated as much of the music he has recorded with those bands was instrumental. In the first 90's he recorded two very recommendable solo albums, but it's really sad that they were almost gone unnoticed. Maybe that was because as a solo artist he was going independent, so not much promotion was done. Maybe because his music was not "fashioned" at all (nothing to do really with neo-prog). The first one ("Caravan of Dreams") is really good, with some tracks being recreations of old material (such as the superb "Didn't Matter Anyway"). "RSPV" has again contributions from old friends, such as Andy Ward, Jimmy Hastings, Kit Watkins, Hugh Hopper or Pip Pyle. And some outstanding material: "What's Rattlin'", the incredible "My Sweet Darlin'", "Over from Dover" (both with a delicious bossa-nova flavor), the proggy "Out of the Shadows" or the nostalgic "What in the World". There are plenty of elegant jazz arrangements here, but this record is also very song oriented. This is music to enjoy with no hurry, and really pleasant if you are open-minded.

A solid album, almost better than the already good Caravan Of Dreams. Very laid back yet always engaging thanks to Richard Sinclair's voice illuminating the compositions.

Album opens with What's Rattlin, a song about being asked about people who haven't been in touch in years. A quaint classic Richard song with memorable lines like "What's doin Mike Ratledge".

My Sweet Darlin is an energetic number with scatting and crystalline piano work.

Videos is a song with a slightly mad opening which leads into a humorous song on certain human behaviours. Lovely.

Barefoot is a short clarinet workout with Hugh Hopper on bass, one of the more average tracks on RSVP

Outback In Canterbury is a didgeridoo almost ambient soundscape.

Over From Dover is one of the albums highlights. A beautiful song with Richard Sinclair's scatting alongside saxophone creating a timeless song of the highest caliber, wonderful.

Out Of The Shadows is a twelve minute epic with an quasi eastern flavour, courtesy of bass guitar and guitar interplay. Opening up with a hymn like section, then going to bass/guitar (all with jazzy piano softly playing and back again until heading into a jazz jam. Piano and bass drive the jam while various instruments get their hand at leading. Then the bass/guitar theme reappears, this time an eclectic piano solo provides an exhilarating climax.

Where are they now is a bass dominated instrumental with melancholic guitar accompaniment.

Bamboo is Malherbe playing their woodwind heart out in a duet with Richard's singing.

What In The World shows a more thoughtful Richard Sinclair lamenting mankind's failures. For me, one of the less compelling tracks, yet still not below 2/5. I really dislike this song and it brings the album down for me, far to preachy.

Replete with fret less bass, tasteful acoustic guitar, saxophone and the quintessential Canterbury Scene scatting, this is a great album that infuses slight world touches with Canterbury Scene for a lovely work.

3.5 stars. A really enjoyable album with Richard Sinclair's warm and whimsical vocals on several tracks. Richard mostly plays bass or acoustic guitar here and has Didier Malherbe from both GONG and CLEARLIGHT adding clarinet, soprano sax and bamboo flute. Jimmy Hastings adds flute and sax while HAPPY THE MAN's Kit Watkins adds synths and piano. I guess Kit would play in CAMEL too which leads us to Andy Ward from that same band adding drums along with Pip Pyle.

A warm and mellow record overall that sees Richard often in a reflective mood and this was released in 1994. It's like he's looking back at times to those heady Canterbury days. Imagine Richard being in both CARAVAN and HATFIELD AND THE NORTH. Pip actually nails this sentiment with his lyrics on the opener "What's Rattlin'?" which must be a British phrase. Love the name dropping on this one and humour. A top three track for me along with "Out Of The Shadows" and the closer "What In The World". Worst song easily is "Videos" and were talking VHS right? Just a bad commercial sounding track which I started skipping after 3 spins or so.

It's hard to believe that most wouldn't get something out of this record even if your not into Canterbury. I also like how it has a uniform sound to it for the most part.

In my humble opinion it is a very beautiful, strange, "philological", mature album; but above all: RELAXED! (which is strange for Mr. Sinclair and co.) The intentions are clear right from the start with the "anti-Canterburian" "What's Rattlin'?" written together with Pipi Pyle, wonderful song with an exceptional swing bossa riff, which mocks the entire aforementioned "scene" (today highly praised). Pip and Rich affectionately mock the Caravans, the Softs, the (untouchable) Henry Cow and even the Hatfields (their wonderful creation): "I'm bored with cups of tea (referring to the Gongs) and riff in 13/8 a la Heatfield and the North".

There are wonderful anthems like "Videos", "Barefoot" and 10. "What in the World" and then the twisted "Out of the Shadows" which runs over twelve minutes and which recalls Ed Wynne's Ozric Tentacles in its electric moment.

The Line-up is an incredible combo of "Sacred Monsters" Didier Malherbe, Tony Coe, Jimmy Hastings, Hugh Hopper, Andy Ward, Pip Pyle.

Overall, an unmissable album!!!

...but just 'cos "I tray to break through and do some fresh and new", this is not exactly a progressive album ...or is it?