A CHILD IN THE MIRROR

According to the liner notes this was a four piece band when this was recorded with lots of guests helping out. Lots of brass and woodwinds are prominant but also a variety of keyboards including mellotron.This to my ears is almost Prog-Folk if anything with female vocals that are mostly reserved and she really pronounces the words carefully it seems. A Classical vibe is present as well. I really didn't like this the first time I heard it surprisingly, but it has grown on me some but certainly not to the point where I want to listen to it again. Just not my style of music I suppose.

"Ciccada" opens with bass that is joined by flute then organ. Drums follow then guitar as it kicks in. Nice. It does settles back as contrasts continue. "Isabella Sunset" opens with violincello and piano as drums and a fuller sound follows.Vocals for the first time as it settles back. "A Child In The Mirror" features a laid back sound with reserved vocals.The tempo does pick up after 3 minutes with bass. I like the intricate guitar 4 minutes in. "A Storyteller's Dream" is acoustic guitar and flute led early. It picks up and gets fuller before a minute then settles back again.Some vocal melodies follow as bass and piano join in, organ too. I like the mellotron later on.

"Raindrops" is flute and keyboard led and the vocals come in before a minute. "An Endless Sea" has some heaviness that comes and goes but mellow sections as well with vocals, acoustic guitar and piano. "Epirus-A Mountain Song" has flute, mellotron, clarinet, vocals and piano standing out. I like the guitar after 4 minutes and the rest of the way. "Elisabeth" opens with acoustic guitar and flute. Drums join in as it gets fuller. It's heavier before 2 minutes but it's brief. Although it will come and go along with the pastoral passages. "The Moment" has lots of intricate sounds and I really like it 1 1/2 minutes in. "A Garden Of Delight" opens with violincello, guitar, drums, mellotron and other sounds that come and go.Vocals join in. Some nice bass 3 minutes in when it settles, organ too. Another calm 4 1/2 minutes in with mellotron then the vocals return.

So we get a blend of Classical and Folk delivered in a progressive manner. Obviously this album has been getting lots of praise here, I just wish I could jump on the bandwagon.