IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

It's been eight years since the last studio album of new material from legendary Sixties rockers Caravan, and 2021's `It's None of Your Business' has just enough to offer more forgiving fans of the iconic Canterbury-related group. Admittedly side-long keyboard dominated epics may be mostly out, replaced instead with pleasant AOR, gentle rock and cheerful pop, but band leader Pye Hastings' charming persona is still front and centre, and there's thankfully a welcome increase in little `Caravan elements' this time around that were largely absent from their rather anonymous 2013 effort `Paradise Filter'.

An instant plus for the album is long-serving member Geoffrey Richardson's viola and the returning Jimmy Hastings on flute (in particular, his contributions immensely lift much of the disc and call to mind fleeting memories of the Caravan of old). Richardson's instrument of choice drifts stirringly through sedately strolling opener `Down from London', and swoons dramatically throughout `Ready or Not'. The encouraging `I'll Reach Out for You' is enlivened by warmly quivering Hammond organ, Mark Walker's peppy drumming and Geoff's ringing mandolin, its eight minutes allowing for a little longer of an instrumental reach-out.

`Wishing You Were Here' benefits from a couple of heavier up-tempo bursts (cool little Hammond run from Jan Schelhaas too, though it should have been triple the length!), `Spare a Thought' is a sweetly chiming acoustic ballad with breezy flute, and `Every Precious Little Thing' a strident acoustic rocker with trilling organ percolating in the background.

`If I Was to Fly' is one of the best foot-tapping clap-along ballads with a lovely melody, dreamy lyrics and a positive vocal, and the delicately melancholic `There Is You' holds a thoughtful longing. Both of these tracks could have slotted in sweetly on many of the classic earlier albums.

Special mention needs to go to the near ten-minute, two-part title-track `It's None of Your Business'. It may not quite reach the much-cherished heights of `Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss' or `I Wish I Were Stoned/Don't Worry' of past Caravan eras, but there;s so much good still contained within this one! A brisk tempo, spirited acoustic strums, confident piano runs, Lee Pomeroy's busily murmuring bass and a sprightly Pye vocal weave together, before a brief ambient middle then joyfully romantic finale. The longer length means the band takes the opportunity to work in a number of extended instrumental flourishes, and it's likely to be the standout favourite among listeners here.

The album closes on a haunting and mysterious instrumental `Luna's Tuna', with crystalline synth shivers, aching viola and sparkling piano ringings evoking memories of the more sedate parts of `Better by Far's `The Last Unicorn;. It's a shame that it's just over three minutes, but it does close the LP in a very evocative and elegant fashion.

Yes, there's a bit of blandness that creeps in, the band is pretty much operating on nostalgic goodwill these days, and they certainly sound their age, but...real fans of the group know that whimsical moods, cheery ditties and thoughtful tunes were just as much `trademark' touches of the classic Caravan era as the dynamic keyboard workouts were (and the increase again of flute and viola helps bridge that gap a little more here). The album also proves to be a charming grower after plenty of listens.

Expect a constant prog-blowout and you'll be sorely disappointed, but go in with a soft heart and listen closer for those `other' Caravan trademarks, and an undemanding and pleasing listen with hints of the old magic can still be found here.

Three stars.