A BLACK BOX

I have only recently bought a copy of the remastered CD, and I am struck by the poor quality of the production which is often rather muddy. However this is still one of Peter's better solo recordings even if only because of the epic 2nd side. The electronic experimentation of side one is rather mixed. Slow time is an excellent track, but The Wipe and Jargon king are rather weak. The most uplifting and accessible track on side one is most likely The Spirit, which is a jolly little number, about ageing. What was originally the second side is a completely different matter, a whole side long Flight hangs together as a whole rather well. Although it has a difficult production, possible due to the large number of layers on it. There are all the VDGG trade marks here, including odd time signatures. Like a plague of lighthouse keepers it contrasts pleasant melodic sections with almost discordant passages. This track flies along at quite a pace and manages to hold my attention all the way through. There are moments when the sound gets rather annoying the drums don't sound quite right to my ears, and at times there is almost to much going on. There is a short pause in the music at the end of the track which is exploited beautiful as Hammil then pulls out the best part of the song for last. As always the Lyrics are interesting and I will not attempt to interpret the meaning of this song. Not quite up to the high standard of Peter's earlier catalogue, this is still one of his better offerings. I have not listened to the record for a number of years until about a week ago, and since I have heard it right through a few times. If it wasn't for the weak first side it would score a 4 stars and side two deserves that but overall it is a patchy work so I give it three.