KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

On Keys of the Kingdom, the Moody Blues get their heads down and wrote a strong set of songs that have solid, well placed hooks, are enjoyable and will touch your heart. The sound is almost Indian in its spiritualism (helped on by the beautifully layered sound and well chosen synths), depth and pleasing melodies. There are many styles coming together here and the use of textures is well executed. There's plenty of that long-lost/long-distance relationship theme form Justin on this album. The first six songs are all excellent, and it falls away a bit after that but comes back when Ray Thomas returns with his masterful 'Celtic Sonant', one of his best songs. my favourite track is 'Hope and pray', an energetic techno song with a haunting melody and a soul-baring lyric.

And don't count out the mystique and inventiveness of the dance track 'Say what you mean' which you get the feeling should have been a dance hit. I think it's really cool that these old rockers (well, rockers?) were making cutting edge music in contemporary styles this late in their career. The song itself has a symphonic quality and swirling appreggio's from Patrick Moraz on the keyboard.

As a note of trivia, Moraz only played on 'Say what you mean', 'Lean on me' and 'Celtic Sonant', the band fired him and said he was never part of the band, a loophole for having to pay for royalties, or rather not having to. So much for "Faith, Hope and Love"!

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