EAST WEST

After several listenings to this debut by eighties band Multi Story I keep coming to the same conclusion each time. A song full of nice (but no more) songs and one excellent (the longest) amongst them. For a change the rating will not be hard, this is a clear 3 star case to me.

The opening title track, East West is a short one and insignificant to me. 2,75*.

Second, Breaking Ground is hardly any longer and neither very interesting. This is not prog so far either, just a short keyboard passage after two minutes coming anywhere near. 2,75*.

Next is Traveller which is becoming more substantial and proggy, a ballad with some vocals and piano to start with, halfway suddenly a switch to the rougher edge, yet I have to conclude the real (prog) deal isn't there yet to be honest. But improvement compared to first two. 3,25*.

With the very highlight, Ahead of your Time, the album gets much more interesting. With each listening session it was the same conclusion. This is a class act of a song mainly due to a terrific instrumental performance by the band with outstanding guitar in the second half as ultimate highlight. 4,25*.

All the more a pity that with the next, Carrie, the band switches back a gear once again and heads towards the mediocre standard of before. Another poppy track with little prog leanings, slightly lifted up halfway with a short Iluvatar-like passage that is worth while. 3*.

Come Alive is a bit rockier than most other songs on this album and also here the progressive element is almost completely lacking. A bit of nice guitar and keys in the second half save it somewhat but it's all too little to convince. 3*.

The Wire is second longest clocking not even 6 minutes so that's another indication this can never be the best example of a prog album. Ok, time doesn't say everything but combined what I'm also hearing with this track Multi Story is at best borderline prog (yes, even neo, really !). Also here: halfway the song is the best part. 3,25*.

Last track Heroes confirms more or less all above stated, some nice moments here (bit Yes-like) but nothing that wins me over. Some nice keys near the end. 3,25*.

I can only conclude that this is a typical eighties product. Prog was hard to find in this decade and Multi Story is just another proof of that. Three stars is the best I can do (3,2).