ENGLAND

As with the previous "Fantasia Lindum", "England" finds Amazing Blondel burning out on Side 1, but what a majestic explosion it is! Here we have a trio of songs, two of them unusually long by Blondel standards, all audio paintings of natural scenery. They are not quite a suite like "Lindum", but both "Seascape" and "Landscape" allow for more progression and development than the miniature components of the prior effort. Both are of interest to progressive fans who prefer a soft, deliberately antique style, not because it really slots into our genre so readily, but simply because of the level of quality and underlying gentle seriousness, or perhaps more studiousness, of the lyrical imagery, composition, and arrangement.

The shortest and last part of the trilogy might be the best thing they ever did. "Afterglow" really condenses the band's love of their surroundings and is simply rousing in every sense. The vocal technique of Mr Gladwin is staggering in its beauty, and the lilting harmonies only augment his efforts. As for the rest, "Sweet Sorrow" has a similar timbre and is also uplifting, but the rest of side 2 is nice without being outstanding in any way.

After "England", apparently Mr Gladwin didn't feel he had much more to add, so he departed the group not to return until their brief 90s reunion. The band soldiered on and maintained quality through several releases, but it was Gladwin who had made them amazing and oh so much a product of England.