BETWEEN CAGES

Well you can add another half star at least, cause this is their most jazz-oriented album but it's enriched with some melodic instrumental passages and a good taste too!! Certainly if you're not too much into this kind of progressive music and regarding also of a certain sense of unevenness (the plotter sometimes is not "logic"), you could remain a bit disappointed .Nevertheless "The perils of passion" is a typical example of such odd and original structure, within their experimental songs, even without exploring the avant-garde style of that "RIO" music genre:it's fine their attempt to give the old stuff by Happy The Man for instance or if you prefer by Sieges Even (being a similar ensemble in some circumstances) a new birth and a diverse modern touch too, which is surprising...of course better things came after,but here you start appreciating their sound, by getting an inkling of their talent.Besides Rick Eddy e di Tim Drumheller are remarkable musicians and their keyboards are well coordinated all together, so that "Falling over fear" is another confirmation of their preference and considering also my comments above...that's a lot of improvisational stuff, sometimes broken up by a different orientation to the early Genesis for example, but always creative!!

Oh guys, this material at the end is very interesting and probably less "cold" in comparison to their following issues!!Ok "Forgiving Eden" is their best work and better than the present one, but it has not that kind of pathos sometimes We need and that's not invaluable...check it out anyway and make your own choice!!

Composition / Creativity: 17/25 Compositions are of consistent quality, but lacking in that certain something.

Musicianship: 22/25 Very well played. Parts are tasteful but somewhat uninspired.

Production / Sound: 22/25 The sound quality of the album is nice and clean. Nothing exceptional, but not intrusive or offensive either.

Overall Effect: 17/25 Pretty run of the mill instrumental "quasi fusion". Quite well played, composition skills are not too bad, but fails to build or maintain much excitement or interest.

Total Score: 78

Grade: C+ / 3.5 stars