THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS

By this time Traffic is at their Mk3 (or is it Mk4) line-up, with Mason showing Wakeman the way on how to drive fans crazy. For my part, I will consider this album to be the second (chronologically speaking) of their prog phase (their first phase was psych) and this album is definitely one of their creative peaks ( Hell if I give 5* , then this must be one) and will be followed by an even better but much-denigrated Shootout At Fantasy Factory that will use the same cut-out cover but with a better idea .

Hardly ever has there been such a beautyfull Love and Peace-Hippy start to an album with spine-tingling vocals (Thick As a Brick approaches that, but it is not on a positive note) such as Hidden Treasure. Most of side 1 is taken up by the 12 min+ stunning title-track , slow in developping (some critics have suggested because low on idea but the athmosphere is the idea) and climaxing only to restart by the same piano notes - delightful.

Side 2 starts off with a rocker , but soon peaks after after Freedom to end on another high-note with the slow but ambiance-full Rainmaker. Too bad for the short throw away rocker (and inspiration-low) Light Up or Leave Me Alone but representating the rebel side of hippydom.

Most progheads reading the reviews on this site will also note that I am very reserved about allowing 5* (less than 5% of my ratings) , but here this is well worth it. A must.

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