NURSERY CRYME

Here I am, reviewing old after the new (Flower Kings) - 1971 was a long time ago now, I was six years old - Man had only just been on the moon several years previously....and Symphonic progressive rock was in it's infancy. When I was a child I loved the art-work of the gate-fold sleve vinyl version my brother would have owned in the early seventies and which I bought in 1977 ish - The cover inspired by the all-time classic - The Musical Box - a track that mesmerises with ace twelve strings and then gets rocky...and the clock...tick tock - Gabriel at his best - Then the finale - and I still love the hammond chords building up as the old man with the childs head tries to seduce that victorian minx...Ace.

Then the weakest track - For Absent friends - but it's still got a feel of the home-counties about it which I like - Phil Collins sings of course...

Track 3 - Return of the Giant Hogweed - Science Fiction Opera - coupled with excellent use of organ and guitar - Another victorian themed story - with ace Gabriel lyrics.

Side 2 track 1 A true undervalued gem - Seven stones - I love this track and the Mellotron solo and again Gabriel tells us a fine tale. Track 2 Gabriel gives us a modern bit of Gilbert & Sullivan with Harold the Barrel - the lyrics "Harold the Barrel cut off his toes and he served them all for tea..." Marvellous. Track 3 Harlequin - some nice twelve strings and again this is a peaceful melodic piece of music

Track 4 My personal favourite - The Fountain of Salmacis - The start sends shivers down my spine I love the mellotron and arpegios on the guitars and organ... Then the Greek mythological lyrics told by students of a top english school who were fascinated by their classics teachings - I love the Hackett solo at the end - Peach of a solo If you haven't got this gem - Buy it - FIVE STARS of course.........