THE STORY SO FAR

(3,5 *) Had this already in May, but after the first listenings (when their debut had just hit me strongly) I felt so disappointed that only yesterday I finally came to think it's not so bad for a live album. The opinions whether Mostly Autumn have improved or gone worse are divided. Judging by this lesser evidence I'd say: worse. Probably the folkish touch has decreased and nearly vanished, and of the 6 newer songs here only a couple can compete with debut's highlights. One I hate for lingering so easily in mind with its stupid chorus: 'Never The Rainbow'. Disastrous song that not even a teenager rock band could be proud of. Unfortunately it's not the only track where the boring flat drumming waters things down. And, yes, the word 'waters' reminds me of another fault to this band. The composer-guitarist-singer Bryan Josh is such a poor man's David Gilmour (and lacking his Waters counterpart). His Pink Floyd mocking is often all too obvious, and already by letting Heather sing more by herself he'd be much wiser.

But there are fine songs enough here for 3 stars. One half extra for letting flutist Angela Goldthorpe participate quite a lot. I just miss the violin. But in a concert hardly any band that hasn't REALLY broke thru can be as eclectic and delicate as in studio albums. M.A. started very promisingly, but seems to lack some originality in song-writing to ever become a truly important prog band.