STRANGER SKIES

1. "Northwards" (6:50) very nice prolonged instrumental opening diminished by poor vocals at the end. (13.3333333/15)

2. "Tundra" (6:44) decent prog music is diminished by poor vocals. (8.75/10)

3. "Crystallized" (5:13) extended chorused 12-string guitar opening takes its time but eventually develops into a nice . VDGG-saxophonist David Jackson can still blow! It's sad for me to say this, but this is an example of a song that is "saved" by not having any vocals! (8.875/10)

4. "Arctica" (4:17) having multiple vocal tracks helps! (9/10)

5. "Stranger Skies" (12:18) sounds so much like a song as if GENESIS were trying to go back to Gabriel-era song constructs only using Peter as the flutist only and Phil Collins as the lead singer! The problem. comes, of course, when 1980s Genesis tries to go back to early 1970s sounds and engineering techniques: they can't! It is, however, a pretty decent NeoProg epic! I've never heard flutist John Hackett go this crazy! The final "movement" of 80 seconds is, however, a little too over-the-top in its Ant/Genesis 12-string guitar worship. (22/25)

6. "Another World" (11:43) a NeoProg song that feels as if it has its feet straddling between the music of Sean-Filkins- era BIG BIG TRAIN and Jem Godfrey's FROST*. GREAT contributions from David Jackson and Matthias Olsson on drums. (17.875/20)

Total Time 47:05

B/four stars; an excellent collection of finely crafted and performed NeoProg songs.

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