TIME

The year is 1981 - E.L.O. had just 'got over' their alleged 'disco' phase (never listened to 'disco', not even fully sure what it is) and those particular albums don't seem to agree with me, but by the time of this release, 'Time', they seemed to have redeemed themselves somewhat. Not the sort of music I'd call 'progressive' per se, but well thought out never-the-less, with attention to detail. From the opening, 'Prologue', we are greeted with a vocoder manipulated voice (an idea they actually flogged to death on this album) backed by an attractive synth melody, giving the album a somewhat futuristic setting. The songs loosely hang together with the concept of 'time', thus giving the overall listen of the LP a certain degree of continuity, with well written songs (I always recall Buggles 'Age of Plastic' album when I listen to this) that may not strictly be the complex music prog-heads seek, but is a very intelligently performed recording. The string section of previous albums have disappeared, leaving more room for Richard Tandy's keyboard/synth work to 'fill out' the sound, Bev Bevan is still keeping to his solid, 4/4 drumbeats (his best drumming can be found on Move's 'Shazam' album IMO), the bass-lines are well constructed and played, and most everything else is left to Jeff Lynne. Peaks of the album include (in order of appearance) - 'Yours Truly, 2095', 'Ticket to the Moon' (with some proggy quiet sections, short, but sweet) 'From the End of the World', the highly melodic and memorable song 'The Lights Go Down' and 'Here Is The News'. The remaining tracks are quite enjoyable, with the lowest point being the commercial hit 'Hold on Tight' ; a neat little song which I never miss out on, but way too 'pedestrian'. The album ends appropriately with 'Epilogue' - a track which reprises the opening melody, and various parts of the album in a minute and a half, bringing to a close this chapter of Mr Lynne's musical vision. I'd recommend any of their first 3 releases before coming here, but this one is still worthwhile - 3 stars.