FROM BOOKS AND DREAMS

Similar in sound to Nektar though slightly heavier, darker, jazzier and rawer. The highlight track here is clearly the last track "Dreams and Nightmares (Nightmares)", though all songs are quite good. 51 minutes this time (The Dawn Anew is Coming was 34). They sound slightly more mature and confident here than on their first/previous album, and somewhat heavier. The other long song "Dreams and Nightmares (Dreams) is not as dark as its subsequent counterpart and a little heavier (featuring a killer riff sequence) and is quite good though the song drags on a bit because their is not much variation. Both "Turn Over" and "Sigh" are very good songs, and "Sleep", which is not really a song, functions well as an opener.

The singer sounds at times similar to Peter Gabriel, and Bernardo Lanzetti from Chocolate Kings- era PFM. Reminds somewhat of Amon Duul, and other Krautrock, as well as the excellent Asia Minor. There are hints of early King Crimson jazz in the sax-oriented sections, which are surprisingly not infrequent, and pleasantly so!

4.5. I would usually rate this down but seeing as two previous reviewers have stated "4.5" and rated down to "4" because only whole star ratings are allowed, I will say 5.

Good album!