THE MUSE AWAKENS

This is really Happy the Man's first album of new studio material in 25 years. Beginnings and Death's Crown were actually recorded before the debut album, Happy the Man, which came out in '77. This new album is certainly on par with my two favorites, the debut and Crafty Hands. I think these guys must have quit after '79's "Better Late.." because they were trying to do quality progressive music at a time when the bigger names were trending commercial and just didn't the attention and recognition they deserve.

If you've never heard this band before, the music is intense mostly instrumental prog, sometimes beautifully mellow, always complex compositions. Stanley Whitaker does the vocal track on Muse, but his vocal style, which used to be kind of cheesy in the '70's, has much improved.

They haven't put out any new material since this one, although band members Whitaker and Wyatt have done a duo album in '06. I hope to hear more from the band and that they don't fizzle away like they did at the end of the '70's. Fans of the '70's material will enjoy this and it's not a bad starting point for newbies.