CLOSE TO THE FIRE

Kayak

Crossover Prog

3.75 | 110 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

As you might know, I have always been quite suspicious with bands re-uniting after a long break (be it ten or like in this case twenty years).

But on the other hand, I have always been quite kind with "Kayak". Even if they never belonged to my fave bands, they never released poor albums either as far as I'm concerned. But it is well known that their prog approach was always mixed with severe pop aspects.

Once you have taken this into account, you might have some fine moments with "Kayak". And the pretty good and somewhat folkish opener is quite an experience to tell the truth. This is a very good track; especially during the instrumental parts. The highlight actually.

Still, this album features some pop tracks which are more painful than before ("Dream Child") but on the other hand there are some truly great moments, like the gorgeous guitar break during "Frozen Flame" which is another very good song from this "Close To The Fire" (sounds familiar, no?).

Is there any need to tell you that most of the vocals melodies are extremely crafted ("Forever")? I guess not, since it has always been a genuine quality of the band. This doesn't imply that I succumb to such a track as the weak "Worlds Apart". Some sort of second hand "Genesis" ballad when they were not five, nor four any longer.

This album is taking you through different musical horizons: a pop-folk "Crusader" which doesn't hold my votes, an awful upbeat pop song with "Two Wrongs" which is best avoided.

The feel is quite mixed while listening to this long album. Some sweet moments for sure but I wouldn't go as high as most fellow prog reviewers (I am used to this). Three stars sounds legitimate but no more.

Unlike many other bands, "Kayak" didn't miss their come back in the sense that this album is in line with most of their previous efforts (although this one sounds quite mellowish with songs like "Here Today").

The closing "Ruthless Queen" is also on the soft edge. It is an old song from the band slightly revisited. The melody is magnificent and supersedes a lot of the songs from this work.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 | 2009-7-10

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