THE GYPSIES

I defy anyone to listen to the exquisite melodies of "Shady Lady", "High Time" or "Siren of the Sea" and not be singing along with every listen. This album was Carmen's last gasp but it was a swan song in the truest sense - they went out on a high note. "The Gypsies" is so often over-shadowed by its ground-breaking predecesors ("Fandangos in Space" and "Dancing on a Cold Wind") and that's a shame, because this album follows closely the pleasing formula of rock and flamenco and has something for everyone. The hard-rocking prog of "Daybreak" and the title-track mix well with the aforementioned songs. Also a shame is the fact that the band was defunct by the time of its release. My only complaint is that there was no photo of the jaw-droppingly beautiful singer/keyboardist Angela Allen on the back cover. A hard-to-find essential addition to your collection.