BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

I guess that I will have a more conservative approach of this album. My favourite Strawbs album was with no doubt From The Witchwood. And I can't say that this Bursting is on par.

Some country feeling is definitely present (Stormy Dow), and you might know that this is a genre that I can't stand. Still, the mellowish ballad Lady Fuschia holds some fine sitar and a strong folk approach.

One of the hardest tracks from the album is also my fave one: Down By The Sea is a dual song which features indeed a hard approach, but it is combined with fine and sweet vocals. I am desperately looking at some ultra early Genesis flavour like being depicted in another review (Hughes). The orchestration has more the Moody Blues influence IMHHO. In all; this a good track.

It is hard to find a masterpiece song in this album. Songs are on the enjoyable side (The River). But don't count on me to encourage some medieval influenced track like Part Of The Union which do belong to the press next genre. It is absolutely poor.

Another very part of this album is the symphonic Tears Of Pavan. It holds some emotional vocals and superb mellotron lines. It switches to a fully Greek folkish part at half time; I must say that it was probably not the most interesting way to develop this song.Half tears and half pavan.

One of the very few songs which sounds like an early Genesis one is The Winter And The Summer during the verse. Don't expect any Trespass grandeur: I'm talking here more of the weak From Genesis To Revelation.

If the press next exercise is an exercise you like, you shouldn't hesitate to perform this feature while reaching Lay Down. Quite horrifying I'm afraid. Poor US country-rock style like I abhorred. I told you: press next. And you'll unhappily reach the most boring track of this album. The closing Thank You is just a stupid and childish choral tune which would be best avoided.

In all, there are some very good songs featured on this album as well as some extremely poor ones. I can't consider the mix to be a good one. Two stars.

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