WATERCOLOUR DAYS

Well, here in Europe, this was only their second album and the long overdue follow up to Scrapbook. Their second album, the missing link, was actually only released two months ago here in Europe as a part of the Up Above Our Heads box. But I regard Watercolour Days as their third album and leaves the nitty gritty to our forum/historians to sort out.

Clouds was a special band who influenced a lot of bands and persons. The Nice springs to mind. Watercolour Days though was both recorded and released some years after The Nice had taken up the baton from Clouds and is new territory for Clouds. Gone is the symphonic prog/jazz stuff from their second album Up Above Our Heads. Instead, we get some competent beat music. Yes, I mean beat as in 1960s mix of pop and rock. The kind of music The Beatles did. There are still plenty of symphonic prog here, but the emphasis has been made more on the good catchy melody than intricates arty rock. Hence; this album is a regression from the Up Above Our Heads album. It is a return to their debut album Scrapbook. I also note the 1960s sound Clouds still had on this album. Besides of their own instruments, Clouds has again drafted in some strings from a symphony orchestra. They are very much present here in addition to the Hammond organ played by Billy Ritchie. Clouds was also blessed with a great vocalist and a great rhythm section too. This created a very charming sound and one I would compare to a band like It's A Beautiful Day.

The songs on this album is all good, bordering to great. But in my view; they are too simplistic compared to their previous albums. But the Hammond organ is mostly always present and that is the big plus with this album. The best songs here are the title track, Lighthouse and I Am The Melody. The rest of the album is good too and filled with some great catchy tunes. The sound is also crystal clear and very probably the work of a remastering and a solid clean up done last year. I would though advice giving this album more than five listenings before making a judgement on it. It is truly a slow burner, this album.

In short, not the greatest albums around, but a very good album it is. It is also a very charming album I am very glad I own. Recommended, it is.

3.5 stars

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