PRIVATE COLLECTION

Jon Anderson and Vangelis are each a couple of very respected musicians. One a talented composer and player of the keys, the other a talented writer and voice of one of the highest regarded progressive bands since the genre's creation. What could possibly go wrong when they decide to get together? Especially when there's a 20+ minute long track on the listing.

Well, something, apperently.

Private Collection is something that should have stayed just that - Private. Hidden away. Throughout the entire album (especially the first side) the songs just go on and on without any apparent motivation or desire to pick up. Yes, that is the point. Light airy music was the point of this album, but it really just feels like the artists decided to sit down and record a bunch of themselves doing... not much.

Opening with Italian Song Jon starts to muse away while Vangelis starts to fill the background with some... sounds. As the opening song suggests there's not going to be any flashy solos here, nor will there be any soaring vocal parts. Really, the music just starts to sound the same after a while and it becomes a real chore to just keep listening. 80s new wave synths and Jon's lackluster voice start to make 90125 seem like a magnificent output. When The Night Comes has some cheesy, almost laughable lyrics which have the excellent ability to state the obvious. The rest of side one doesn't have much else to comment on.

Moving onto side two the album seems like it should have some promise being that it's filled by the side long Horizon. Unfortunately this song seems like it's just a copy of the first side - Vangelis's airy synths fill the gaps which Anderson's voice don't help to make the thing better at all. There's a few good parts, mostly where the song's mood, tone and pace actually *gasp* pick up for a rare moment!

If you're looking for just this kind of music (airy, zoned out New Age music that demands nothing from the listener) then you're in good hands, because what performances are there are done well. Unfortunately for most of us prog fans (especially those who like Yes a lot for their music and not just vocals) this is one to avoid. Not even a side long track can really do much to save this one. Mostly a chore to listen to when there's so much more engaging music to be found. 1 star.

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