IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU

After all the raves for In the Land of Grey and Pink I bought it and love it. Truly thought it couldn't get any better than that, but recent explorations within the Canterbury Scene keep turning up gem after gem--and here is another one! Though the album starts off with a couple lighter tunes (shades of things to come), I find this album much more pleasant, pleasurable, musical, and melodic, and definitely more breadth in the emotional spectrum than Pink and Grey or Plump in the Night. My only reservation is that because I do think Richard's voice is quite good--despite his hippy stream-of-consciousness style--on this album he hasn't quite developed his confidence or up-front 'leading man' presence yet. That begins with Pink and Grey. Love "Brother James"' contributions of flute and sax.

Why is it that so often the earlier into a band's career I explore the more I like them, the more I get them?

5 star songs: 7. "Can't Be Long Now/Francoise/For Richard/Warlock" (14:25) (30/30), 3. "As I Feel Die" (5:17) (9/10), 4. "With an ear to the ground you can make it/Martinian/Only cox/Reprise" (9:30) (17.5/20), and 8. "Limits" (1:33) (2.5/2.5).

1. "If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You" (3:08) a humorous, bluesy pop song intended as the album's welcomer. Not sure it fully succeeds. Wish the organ weren't so scratchy. (7.25/10)

2. "And I Wish I Were Stoned--Don't Worry" (8:18) opening with a little "Whiter Shade of Pale" organ before Richard Sinclair enters singing in a voice that sounds as if it wants to be taken seriously. Vocals are paired up with Pye Hastings more in the fore for the next verse and choruses. A solid song but nothing to write home about. Even the middle instrumental vamp is nothing so very special. The band has some distance to go before it is expressing its compositional and instrumental prowess.(15.5/20)

3. "As I Feel Die" (5:17) opens with two minutes of using a vocal melody line that sounds/feels like it came straight out of a classic Beatles song. Once the song kicks into full tempo and sound it takes on a sound all its own. The band is here beginning to show what tremendous potential it has. More polish necessary. (8.75/10)

4. "With an ear to the ground you can make it/Martinian/Only cox/Reprise" (9:30) the vocals here are awesome and the post-vocal instrumental section ("Martinian") is full, nuanced, cohesive, and beautifully soloed. The "Only cox" section is also beautiful with its subtleties. (17.5/20)

5. "Hello, Hello" (3:58) a cool rhythmic section of snare-rims and bubbling bass over which Richard sings his story narrative. (8.25/10)

6. "Asforteri" (1:22) (2/2.5)

7. "Can't Be Long Now/Francoise/For Richard/Warlock" (14:25) one of my all-time favorite Canterbury epics and probably my favorite Caravan song. A harbinger of great things to come for Caravan specifically and for the Canterbury Scene in general. (30/30)

8. "Limits" (1:33) cool Burt Bacharach-ish jazzy lounge piece. (2.5/2.5)

B+/4.5 stars; a near masterpiece of progressive rock music and one of my favorite Canterbury albums. Had the sound production been a little more polished and the band a little more skilled/proficient on their instruments this might have turned out even better.