SONG OF SEVEN

"Song of Seven" is Jon ANDERSON's most conventional album to date, sounding at times like a spiritually informed SUPERTRAMP. A handful of these tracks are carryovers from the last YES sessions, rendered here in a straightforward style by the studio musicians on hand. While less well received than his collaborative effort with VANGELIS released earlier in the year, Short Stories, this record is much more accessible and engaging. Unlike the conceptual "Olias of Sunhillow", "Song of Seven" is simply a collection of songs, many with a positive message and a catchy melody. A few qualify as actual pop songs - "Don't Forget (Nostalgia)", "Heart of the Matter" and "Take Your Time" for example - delivered with a charm and sincerity unique to ANDERSON. The opening "For You For Me" is more in line with the free-form vocalizing of Short Stories, "Hear It" and "Days" perhaps the closest match to "Olias" ' acoustic magic. The album's high point is the title track, which recalls the melodic epics of YES, albeit on a more modest scale. Likewise, "Some Are Born" and "Everybody Loves You" are memorable songs that deliver Jon's message of love and hope in pleasant arrangements. The music, predictably light on its feet, is anchored by traditional instrumentation: fretless bassist John Giblin, keyboardist Ronnie Leahy, guitarist Ian Barinson and percussionist Maurice (Morris) Pert add an element of substance lacking in Jon's earlier work, although some may find the results mundane by comparison. I have yet to read a positive account of this album, but it's one of my favorites from Jon, unpretentious and disarmingly sweet.