MIDNIGHT DREAM

2.5 stars really!!!

Fourth and last album, again graced with a Roger Dean artwork, slightly better than the previous Walking Circles, Midnight Dream only sees a change of bassist (oddly the singer and bassist will have changed three times while the rest of the group remained, thus drawing a Deep Purple comparison). But musically this will not change much to MS's AOR-style of rock: although "avant-la-lettre" and paying a bit more attention to interplay between musicians, than later n in the decade. Lauridsen's vocals are just apt, and not much more, the group's musicianship following the dame trend, but somewhat forcibly restrained by an unadventurous and very conventional songwriting. Compared to its predecessor, only one of the ten tracks is longer than 5 minutes, giving you an idea of the direction taken.

Like on the previous WC, wind-player Hesselman's contributions still sound very much brass rock (like on the opening title track and its follow-up. But just like the previous album, there is solid music direction, the songs departing in style and heading nowhere quick. They even stoop as low as to reprise some old 60's Motown track, bordering on the ridiculous.

On the more positive the instrumental trad piece Bethim is flawlessly executed and the longer Where Ever You Are, once the chorus and verses dealt with, they let a good groove ( a solid lengthy sax over an evolving bass line, then a splendid guitar over an enthralling piano) and let loose. But two acceptable tracks over a full album is simply too few to bother, and let's face it: this fairly well summarizes Midnight Sun's discography

"Midnight Dream" is the third full-length studio album by Danish rock band Midnight Sun. The album was released through the Sonel label in 1974. It´s the successor to "Walking Circles" from 1972. The lineup is intact and it´s therefore the same sextet lineup who recorded "Midnight Dream", who also recorded "Walking Circles".

Stylistically the material on "Midnight Dream" is also more or less a continuation of the blues oriented rock sound of "Walking Circles". The winds and the use of piano sometimes gives the music a slight touch of jazz-rock, but it´s not a dominant part of the band´s sound on "Midnight Dream". Midnight Sun is a very well playing band and it´s arguably one of the greatest assets of the album, how well playing a unit they are.

The compositions are decent enough, but nothing out of the ordinary for the style. It´s pretty standard fare blues oriented rock with the occasional journey into jazz-rock territory with a soul/rock singer in front. "Midnight Dream" is a well produced release and quality wise it´s pretty much on par with "Walking Circles", which means it´s a good quality release, but that it doesn´t reach the heights of the debut album. A 2.5 - 3 star (55%) rating is warranted.