AMARYLLIS

Bread Love and Dreams third (and last) CD was recorded together with their second (it was supposed to be a double album, but the recording company vetoed that idea), and released a few months after that one. However, it is quite different and it is also their best. Not that I think it is a masterpiece of sorts. It is very nice, ok, it has some good moments, but really, this band is not an obscure outfit from the 70´s for nothing. Their sound is quite common place and it came a little too late to catch the last musical fashion of its day. I guess they would be a lot more known if they had appeared in the mid 60´s. Also I really don´t understand those comparisons to The Incredible String Band, except fro the fact that they are both scotish. I see nothing of their spaced out, freakish acid folk on Bread Love and Dreams. BLD was a much more average folk rock essemble.

But to the album itself: nice stuff. The 21 minute epic title track is obviously regarded as the highlight here and it is interesting, although I see it more as 3 distinctive tracks put together than as a whole piece. It has its moments though and the final part has some very good vocal harmnies between David McNiven and Angie Rew. Besides, the band gets quite a kick from The Pentagle´s rhtyhm section fo Danny Thompson (acoustic bass) and Terry Cox (drums). Both do enhance a lot Mcniven and Rew´s stuff (Thompson in particular is in fine form). Alan Trajan´s keyboards work however is seldom heard here. Personally I liked side two better. It does have a nice selection of independent short songs. Not surprisingly they remind me of a less elaborated version of The Pentangle. The first three songs are among their best ever. Production is excellent: my CD has a very clean sound.

Conclusion: Although I can´t cite Bread Love And Dreams as one of my top ten favorite prog folk bands, I liked this album. They might not have brought anything new to the folk scene, and they may have come a little too late, but their work is worth checking out for those who, like me, like some nice, melodic and well performed folk rock . Rating: 3 stars. Good, but non-essential.