REFLECTIONS

In the difficult environment for adventurous music of the 1980s, it was remarkable that Osiris could start the decade so strongly. Unfortunately, by 1989, even Osiris had decided to graft a metallic sheen onto their warm progressive flesh. The production and arranging is far more cavernous here, which is not to my taste. The lyrics, never the group's strong suit, are even weaker than usual. Osiris' strengths were melody, enthusiasm, and arrangement, but for the most part they are given short shrift here.

All that said, there are plenty of fine instrumental passages here, particularly in "Lost and Found", "The Circle", and "Fire And Ice", which compensate for horrid faux metal (think Eloy circa "Metromania") on "In the Corner", the atonal "Prisoner", and the general cheesiness of "Shades of Gray". Even the title cut is a bit of a letdown, being somewhat banal. It turns out that the track is best heard live, where it receives the breath of life on "Beyond Control-Live" just 2 years later.

While I admit there is plenty to like in this flawed release, upon reflection, this would be the last of the 3 1980s albums from Osiris that I would recommend.