DISCOVERY

By the time of "Discovery", Jeff Lynne had indeed discovered the formula for writing highly infectious hit singles. Any prog tendencies ELO previously had, had long since been abandoned, the band producing the sophisticated pop of groups such as 10CC. Indeed, most of the music on this album makes 10CC look like the creators of complex symphonic prog.

It may therefore seem that there is no point in even considering this album, but with the foregoing scene setting in mind, this is a very proficient and highly enjoyable album. We have the straight pop of "Shine a little love", the superb power pop of "Confusion", the melodic ballad "Midnight blue", and the wall of sound "Don't bring me down".

The Beatles influences which Lynne cherishes so dearly and makes no apologies for, are clearest on the whimsical but compulsive "The diary of Horace wimp". Also worthy of mention is "Last train to London", an upbeat song of long distance love.

"Discovery" is very much a continuation of "Out of the blue", indeed any of these tracks would have been equally at home on that album. There is no attempt to move on from the successful formula of that album, this is simply more of the same. Such formulaic writing cannot however be relied upon forever, and after one more fine album ("Time"), the magic would quickly evaporate.

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