ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Nothing lowers expectations for the final part of a Jeanne D'Arc trilogy than 2 dreadful previous installments. Just the fact that this is the end justifies an extra half star, not to mention that the title is a vast improvement over "The Vision the Sword and the Pyre Part 3" for instance. But "Echoes from the Past" is even better for the almost total lack of spoken parts which infected its predecessors, greater emphasis on keyboards, and an improvement in the dynamics of the compositions.

Frank Bornemann's voice remains problematic for its 4 note breadth and most of these "tunes" are structured to let him run wild in that range, but too often the instrumental passages are treated as if they too are stifled by age when they should have offered much needed contrast. Still, if "Compassion for Misery" doesn't really develop, it sounds voluptuous in that "Colours" era sort of way, and "Farewell" is so direct and unadorned that it could have subbed for the entire trilogy, if only. In between, the title cut and "Warning Signs" thrive on savvy guitar and bass hooks. A couple of recycled themes surface from "Ocean" and "Ocean 2" make appearances and that's just fine.

Not that "Visionary" was all that good, but this is almost its equal, so I will now echo my previous action and round up. OK Eloy.