STRANDED

With its title alluding to the lead track of the previous album, this is yet another classic RM album even if Eno is gone. Coming in are Quartermass's John Gustaffson on bass and Curved Air's Eddie Jobson on violin and keys (unfortunately relieving Ferry from this duty and allowing him to become the full frontman (that will become their ultimate flaw), almost sole writer and future crooner. I mean the man has a great voice and looks to match so this was maybe his fate.

Plenty of still inventive and catchy pop songs, but nothing as mesmerizing than the previous album, one can already feel the slip as Jobson backs Ferry on Just like You. The first side of the vinyl leaves you with a rather imperishable and deceiving feeling of waste - considering whet had been achieved on the second side of previous For Your Pleasure - and unconfirmed talents. If Amazona has flashes of brilliances (Manzanera doe get a credit inn the writing), and the all-too-long Psalm is just slightly interesting. The second side starts with the disastrous Serenade, but the following Song To Europe with its Kevin Ayers-like vocals does make up for the slack of the album (Ferry even singing in French almost managing to sound like giant Jacques Brel and anarchist Leo Ferre). Mother Of Pearl draws some interesting moments, especially after a rocky intro, but never manages to take off. Closing track Sunset could've been interesting if Eno had been there. But on the whole Manzanera is the other absentee except for one Amazona.

Ultimately, I believe this album became the downfall of RM, and the fact that Ferry became even more of a towering force within the group, will lead Manzanera to solo projects such as the superb Canterbury-esque Quiet Sun or later poppier 801. Given the added progressive musicians that this album brought, this album is quite a let down for progheads only, though. And future albums will only confirm this. Incredibly, though, this will not stop RM to have their first #1 album in the UK with their worst album so far as the lead-off track was another top ten hit single with non-album Hula Kula.

BTW, progheads, since it is highly unlikely that I will ever review further albums, Gustafson played bass on the following album Country Life (with its very hung-up teenager artwork), but John Wetton will be replacing him for the tour of that album and further, but he will not do any difference just as he did not when he came in Family.