IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK

Third album of Caravan, "In The Land of Grey And Pink" is a classic of prog, and specially of Canterbury rock. This album is the emblem of a soft sonority, in pastel color, smooth, which expresses a lifted and fairytale lifestyle.

"Golf Girl" (5:05, vote 8,5) is a classic. It's a very characteristic song: the very English voice of Richard Sinclair, the trombone, the flute, the light-hearted rhythm, produce a fabulous song for children - and adults. Very good, actually. With his sound it introduces us to the Caravan universe. Beautiful instrumental pieces.

"Winter Wine" (7:46, vote 8,5). Again the voice of Richard Sinclair to create a new world. The track is a prelude to the suite of the second side, thanks to the solo keyboards and the bass button. But the best piece is when you hear the piano in the background. Anyway, with "Golf Girl" it is the best song of the Lp.

"Love To Love You (and Tonight Pigs Will Fly)", (3:06, vote 7,5/8) is sung by the guitarist Pye Hustings. It's a short track with a sustained rhythm, a lot of percussion. Amazing.

"In The Land Of Grey And Pink" (4:51, vote 7,5/8). Richard Sinclair sings a piece dominated by an excellent rhythm, without many variations, which has the best part in the central, instrumental section. End of side A.

Side B contains the suite "Nine Feet Underground" (22:40, vote 8). Divided into 8 pieces, and largely instrumental, it is one of the first suites of progressive rock, coeval to that of "Pawn Hearts". The beginning is dominated by the keyboards, but the rhythm section is well in evidence (excellent bass sound). The rhythm is relaxed, and does not change mood even when the sax enters a variation on the central melody, which then returns, to open the sung part. After another variation of the theme with the keyboards, towards the eleventh minute finally the rhythm slows down, the music stops ... but soon starts again with another movement of the suite, still characterized by the keyboards solo, but the drums and the bass are not standing still, and they contribute to create a certain frenzy, a beautiful "crescendo", which however soon ends and enters the organ of the David Sinclari, the factotum, with almost psychedelic sounds. Then the singing returns, which reassures the waters that had just rippled. The voice of Richard Sinclair is fluted, and brings harmony again. But here wisely the Caravan decide to raise the pace, and finally when three minutes are left to the end comes a gritty, almost heavy piece (God be praised!), which ends the record in "crescendo".

Caravans draw a fable, with this album, characterized by the pastel colors of the album cover. Their art is to describe their own universe, smooth, made of relaxation and harmony. The defect, what is missing to be an absolute masterpiece, is the pathos, is the drama, the depth. It 's all a bit' too calm, too homogeneous, for my taste, it slips away too easily, like warm water on a smooth table.

Side A. 8,5; Side B: 8. Vote Album: 8+. Rating: Four Stars.