KEEPING UP

This was a pleasant surprise to say the least. I was expecting more of a Proto-Prog style, and you get that flavour with the vocals and mellotron but man these guys were adventerous and very talented. Lots of strings and mellotron while Alan Brown adds some excellent flugelhorn and trumpet. The bass is really upfront too which I like.

"Masquerade" opens with strings then we hear glass breaking as drums and guitar come charging in. Nice bass lines too as they kick into gear with strings. Vocals after 1 1/2 minutes, mellotron follows. It calms right down 3 minutes in then reserved vocals join in. Horns take the vocals place as mellotron floods in. Vocals return. It kicks back in after 4 1/2 minutes. "Sunset And Evening Star" opens with mellotron followed by drums and a fuller sound before a minute. Vocals come in as it settles. Contrasts continue. A beautiful track. "Preview" is a 2 minute tune with horns, piano, strings then vocals. "Questions And Answers" is uptempo with piano then vocals as chunky bass joins in as it gets fuller. Piano only to follow then mellotron joins in followed by vocals and a fuller sound. Check out the mellotron 3 minutes in. Percussion and horns late. I like the guitar too.

"Critique (With Exceptions)" features these almost spoken words that do get theatrical. The music comes in around 3 minutes and we get a very Miles Davis flavoured section here as trumpet, bass and other sounds come and go. Very cool. Check out the guitar before 8 minutes, he eventually starts to rip it up big time. Nice. "Duet" is less than a minute of horns and acoustic guitar. "Song" opens with piano and vocals as mellotron joins in. It gets fuller with strings and drums. Guitar after 2 1/2 minutes solos tastefully. "Children" is the 9 minute closing track. It opens with flute before kicking in before 1 1/2 minutes. Great sound with vocals, horns and mellotron standing out. Check out the strings 4 minutes in and the mellotron that follows. It kicks back in with some killer bass. Vocals and mellotron 7 minutes in.

What an album ! It's one of those gems that i find once in a while that make the search all worthwhile. A must have.