BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

You either like things or you don't. I can appreciate the musicianship on offer throughout this CD, but I never particularly liked either Owner of a Lonely Heart or Roundabout so, before I settle down, I am already preparing to write off 2 tracks of the 14 on offer. And the versions, here, do nothing to change my mind. To this "ditch" list I quickly add Listening With Me, Infinite Mirage, Soul Eternal and Renaissance Of The Sun, none of which are my cup of tea at all. It's music for lounge lizards: I'm just not on this wavelength.

So that leaves us with Intro, A For Aria, ICU, Time And A Word (wonderful interpretation - streets ahead of the rather dull original), Wondrous Stories, And You And I, I See You Messenger and New New World, which, collectively, deliver about half an hour of absolutely terrific and varied music which I can listen to over and over again. The new versions of Wondrous Stories and And You And I, in particular, are quite magnificent, with characteristically delicate vocals from Jon accompanied by hauntingly cascading piano backdrops. Just stunning.

So it's each to his own. I couldn't possibly rate this higher than 3 stars because I am peering into so many black holes, but what's left behind has all the making of a truly dazzling star.