THE THREE BUSHES

More of the sprightly, "Romantic" symphonic rock of RUNNING TO PARADISE here as well. In the end, I don't find this album quite as satisfying as its wholly ingratiating predecessor, as it doesn't seem quite as fresh and inspired. Still, there are moments of great delight here, as on the classically-inspired piano-based instrumental "After The Look". And really, how many sympho-prog albums can you name that use sitar for textural reasons, not to sound particularly "Indian". They certainly deserve points for that, if nothing else!

Guest appearances on tenor sax (ex-Cry Freedom saxman Dieter Urbassik) and percussion this time round.

SIRIUS were a four piece band out of Germany who released two studio albums in the 80's this being the second one from 1984. Very much a keyboard and vocal dominated album and they sound exactly like GENESIS. I've never used the phrase "clone band" that I can ever remember despite seeing it used quite a bit in the past but man, come on this is exactly like GENESIS. The sound quality on my disc isn't the greatest but passable although I had a hard time making out the sitar and harpsichord at times. Some sax too but it's brief. It's hard not to like it because well they sound just like GENESIS but that's also what makes this annoying to my ears. The debut is just as bad but most seem to like it better than this one.