THE BIG LAD IN THE WINDMILL

It Bites was formed in the mid 80's and this strangely titled album was their debut. The band fits firmly into the Crossover Prog genre with both strongly commercial elements and progressive elements. They were hardly a groundbreaking group but they did develop their own characteristic sound and approach to making music. The voice of singer and guitarist Francis Dunnery is strong and distinctive and the whole band oozes with talent. There is not a lot of lead guitar work, but when it is present it is really good and often remind me of Allan Holdsworth's style. Keyboarder John Beck provides some very nice, short and snappy keyboard solos.

On this debut there is much potential for sure and it gave them a hit song in Calling All The Heroes as well as several other songs that would go on to become live favourites. But overall this album is a bit tame and firmly rooted in its time; namely the mid 80's. The opening two tracks are very good, but there is something lacking in the often timid sound - it lacks punch. The inclusion of a brass section on some tracks adds to the Pop feeling and removes from the (Prog) Rock feeling they would develop on subsequent albums. Some moments are a bit embarrassing and brings the album down a bit. But there are also some really great moments as well!

The most progressive elements of the band's sound are found throughout but the slightly longer tracks have a bit more of that. The sound on the band is wholly Pop, but the arrangements are often not conventional and the music takes some surprising twists and turns that will certainly please the Prog fan. The album is very well produced and it sounds very professional.

On the live album Thank You And Goodnight, several songs from this album are performed with very much more Rock power and energy compared to this studio album. I therefore recommend starting with that live album instead of this somewhat pre-mature but still very promising studio debut. Still, any fan of the band will want to have all three of the band's studio albums.

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