WORLDS APART

Well I like this better than their previous album "Silent Knight", in fact many will hold this one up as their favourite SAGA record. Like the last recording I find there are two great tunes that I know from the radio along with some good to poor tracks. Not a fan of the album cover either with the fog and the old guy with the map.

"On The Loose" is a favourite from years back. Synths and drums to open as vocals join in.The guitar comes to the fore on the chorus. Nice instrumental section 2 1/2 minutes in. "Time's Up" is where they slow things down.The focus is on the vocals and the beat. "Wind Him Up" is maybe their best track ever. This was huge in Europe. It hits the ground running and I love the chorus. My favourite on the album. "Amnesia" has some nice bass as vocals join in. Then it kicks into an eighties sounding tune. It settles back as contrasts continue.

"Framed" is a song I have mixed feelings about. I'm not a fan of the spoken words and eighties sounding synths but the guitar is good and I like the sound of this track late. "The Interview" has an intro I don't really like but it does get better. "No Regrets" opens with light keys and fragile vocals. It turns spacey late. An interesting tune. "Conversations" is an instrumental. I like it. "No Stranger" is the longest song at over 7 minutes. It takes a while to get going but then it kicks in before 2 1/2 minutes with vocals in tow. The guitar lights things up before 4 minutes. A calm with synths 6 minutes in and almost spoken words follow.

3.5 stars.