PERMANENT WAVES

Compared to "Hemispheres", this record is just a bit less progressive, being quite complex rythmic hard rock. The electric guitar has a bit less of the overdrive effect than on the "Hemispheres" album. The keyboards are very simple and are rather in the background, and they do not take very much room. On the catchy "Spirit of the Radio", there is a pleasant reggae part, and you can hear a rythmic PIANO on the song. "Free Will" has an OUTSTANDING complex bass part. "Different Strings" is a more mellow track full of melodic acoustic guitar, PIANO and relaxing lead vocals, ending with a slow & moaning guitar solo. The last track, "Natural Science", is one of the best RUSH track ever recorded: it is very progressive, structured and it has varied themes; the instruments, especially the bass and drums, are very complex. This record, coming right before "Moving Pictures", announces a bit how the lead guitar will sound like.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!