AT THE SOUND OF THE BELL

Pavlov's dog returned two years after the release of their well received debut ("Pampered menial") with what is in my opinion a generally superior offering. In outline, the two albums are broadly similar, with nine tracks on each and a paltry 33+ minutes of music. By this time, founding violinist etc. Siegfried Carver had already left the band; while he was not directly replaced, the band did add acoustic guitarist/harmony vocalist Thomas Nickeson. Nickeson would go on to play keyboards too. The album also features a long list of guest artists including Andy Mackay on sax, Javyn Wright on violin plus a boys choir and a string orchestra. Although Mike Saffron was still a member of the band at this stage, he is not credited on the sleeve, and does not actually play on the album. His place on drums is filled on a guest basis by Bill Bruford (credited as William Bruford).

There is a certain maturity to the songs which for me was lacking on the band's debut, but they remain structurally simple, with the fine ballad "Standing here with you" for example failing to realise its full potential. The vocals of David Surkamp are less of an issue for those of us already familiar with the first album, although those picking up the band for the first time with this album will go through the same emotions as the rest of us did.

There are several highlights along the way, especially in the two tracks to breech the 5 minute barrier. "Valkerie" opens with a luscious mellotron sweep introducing something far closer to prog than we have heard from the band so far. It is on the chorus here that we find the boys choir, and though the effect is somewhat corny, it works reasonably well. The closing "Did you see him cry" is the best track on the album. It is based on a fine piano melody which is enhanced by mellotron and an emotive vocal. The arrnagement of the track is even more towards prog than "Valkerie" with the first real extended instrumental break the band have put together.

"Gold nuggets" is a decent organ backed ballad with an emotional vocal delivery telling a good tale well, but once again the track could have been so much more. Elsewhere, we have a couple of throwaway tracks, the 2 minute Queen like "Try to hang on" being the most disposable, but the similarly jaunty "She breaks the morning sky" coming close behind.

In all, while "At the sound of the bell" is rather an inconsistent offering, and a woefully short one, it does contain enough appealing material to make it Pavlov's Dog's best release. If you only hear one of their albums, I would recommend it be this one.

Share this PAVLOV'S DOG review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Easy Livin
• Report this review (#190516)
• Buy PAVLOV'S DOG music online with PA partners
• Show all PAVLOV'S DOG MP3/Stream
• Go to PAVLOV'S DOG page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to At the Sound of the Bell page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PAVLOV'S DOG related discussions