SUR LA MER

Now I am here again with my review of a Moody Blues' album which I think I liked, yes I did. Their last record "The other side of life" was a disappointment" but after two years it was like the band was more comportable with their own music again. No it wasn't progressive rock, but it had the same professionality that The Moody Blues used to have and just like Genesis' "Invisible touch" is this a typical eighties record with an old prog band that still could do good music.

The record is their thirteenth and it was recorded 1988, 26 years from now and 22 years from their debut album. Now Ray Thomas was gone and the musicians that were left were Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Graeme Edge and Patrick Moraz and Tony Visconti was programming. I don't like the cover, it is as boring as "Octave"s but it is a lot of blue and I think it's a painting. The design of "Sur la mer"'s cover must be though just for the CD box format.

The music here is, just like I said much better than on the last album. The melodies are sweeping and fine and the vocals are very clever and catchy. It is not prog but good pop rock from the eigthies. The first song "I know you're out there somewhere" is very catchy(6/10) and next song "Want to be with you" is well sung and friendly(6/10) and the third track "River of endless love" is the album's best(7/10). Here we have nice ahrmonies and depth and a fine typical saxophone. "No more lies" is perhaps a bit too languorous but I like it(6/10) and "Here comes the weekend" is well performed and dramatid(6/10).

The second half is unfortunately inferior and especiallt the tracks seven and eight aren't interesting at all for me. The closer though: "Deep" is a deep and varied track with a good guitar solo(6/10). Over all was this listening a pleasant experience which left me satisfied with what I heard. My ratings on every track give me the final rating 2,75 which becomes 3 stars overall.