SONGS FROM THE BLACK BOX

Half of this album should have been the second official studio release from Woolly's band, "Maestoso" (all the details are available in the good review from Joolz). BJH's pleasant sound was noticeable on several tracks of this "debut" album.

On this "lost" album (until these tracks were finally released, a long time after their conception) the mood is more popish for some of the tracks (as if Woolly wanted to mime BJH). Some nice melodies of course like "All Get Burned"; but I would have expect a more adventourous music. Wasn't he the one who held the progressive side of BJH togehter ?

We are far from this with "Too Much, Too Loud, Too Late". Smooth AOR, a bit spacy at the end. A pleasant but average song.

From their debut album (which is fully represented) "A Prospect Of Whitby", "Patriots", "American Excess" and "Maestoso, A Hymn In The Roof Of The World" were the best songs (you can read the full review for this album in the according entry). These were really excellent.

From the new ones available, one of my preferred song and the most BJH like is "Deceivers All". Beautiful melody and fine guitar solo. This is a brilliant flash back on the best BJH's work. So emotional, so pleasant so...good. A Genesis finale is a definite plus.

I also like very much "The Will to Fly". Same tranquil melody, so typical of this good band of the seventies. Oooops, sorry I'm describing Barclay here. But it is so similar. I guess that we could have gotten some more good albums from this band would Woolly have remained with them. Anyway, with "Maestoso" he prolonged, at times, the experience. "Sunday Bells" reminds me BJH 's early days, when they were playing with an orchestra. Fine vocals from the guy and nice orchestration in the final section. Nice as well. The closing song ..."Open" is somewhat too melowish to my ears but the nice melody is a good "au revoir".

Several new songs are of the caliber of "Maestoso" 's debut. But all the new tracks will be featured on a next compilation called "Black Box Recovered". They will be combined with some demo / live version of Woolly's debut album. It sounds a bit complicated, but so it is. It is a difficult excercise to rate this album on such an unprecise rating system. Five out of ten would be accurate. For Woolly's achievement I will upgrade it to three stars.