GRACIOUS !

Combining the Mellotron-happy approach of the Moody Blues with the more dynamic vocal approach of the likes of Audience, Family or the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Gracious craft here a debut album that's full of flash and pomp and, whilst lyrically speaking there isn't much of substance, they certainly manage to make it all sound serious at the time. It's been overlooked over the years a little. perhaps because Gracious didn't quite have the longevity of more prominent contemporaries, but it's worth giving a chance if you care for the early prog sound at all - in particular, album closer The Dream takes us on a wild journey from the height of mystical visions to the verge of a fist fight.