DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED

The Moody Blues took the risk of combing 60s rock with classical orchestral music, with the record company fearing it wouldn't work. But the result was (and still is) a beautiful musical experience. It takes the simple concept of the transition from dawn to night, and mixes pure orchestral parts among band performances. The two styles are separated from each other and sort of take turns, so no one should get bored of one particular style. Each song represents a part of day and they all work well to represent it.

The Day Begins is all orchestral and incorporates themes to be heard later in the album, along with a poem by Graeme Edge to open up the concept. This is an incredibly pleasant song and a perfect opener.

Dawn Is A Feeling is where the band start performing. It's a laid-back piece with pleasant piano arpeggios, and the trademark mellotron of The Moody Blues. The lyrics are great as they sound sophisticated but at the same time, a little drug influenced.

Another Morning is the Ray Thomas song of the album: where he writes, sings and plays his flute. It's fun and sort of corny but I don't dislike it. Maybe on its own it's a little weak, but within the whole album experience it does work well, especially when the orchestra ties into it, as it does with all the songs.

Lunch Break begins with the orchestra playing hectic, jolly music. It's sort of sound that reminds me of the old school Disney movies. It then turns into the rocking Peak Hour, the most '60s' sounding thing on the album. Reminds me of early Pink Floyd. Very enjoyable.

Now for The Afternoon. It begins with Tuesday Afternoon, what I believe to be the best Moody Blues song to have existed. It's perfect in every way, especially the end where the flute flows into the orchestra and ends happily. With an orchestral interlude in the middle it joins to a moody (untitled) song. The Afternoon makes very good use of the mellotron.

The Evening begins with the 'trancey' Sunset which has the orchestra combined with it in a few parts which are very effective. It then turns into Twilight Time which sounds very spacey and far-out. I love the vocal contributions by Justin Hayward.

Then the finale of the album; the famous Nights In White Satin. It contains breathtaking verses and choruses mixed with that beautiful and haunting mellotron that lead up to a brilliant climax where the orchestra joins in again. It then ends with Graeme Edge's magical poetry.

Days Of Future Passed is a timeless album with classic songs among a strong musical concept and structured album. It is best heard and looked at as a whole, rather than with individual tracks. Along with just being an enjoyable album it is very unique; this album made me enjoy classical music that I wouldn't usually enjoy, by placing it with rock so it's heard in moderation. Sadly, The Moody Blues were unable to exceed the heights of this album, and this was only 1967!

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