3

I find this album by focus absolutely gorgeous and is by far the one I hear the most. It brings to my memory very special moments I lived with my wife at Bornos Festival in Cadiz, Spain, two years ago in a fantastic concert by the band.

This album not only contains the wonderful Sylvia that causes me chills down the spine, but also my preferred song in the Focus saga in the form of Focus 3. But this album strong pieces are Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! and Anonymous Two, where the extended jams are flawless and the interplay between Thijs Van Leer's keyaboads and flute and Jan Akkerman's crunchy, bluesy and jazzy guitars are incredible. Pierre Van Der Linden shines all along the record, he's so dynamic and imaginative. In the shorter songs Carnival Fugue and Elspeth Of Nothingham there's a mellower aura and medieval touches that make them quite sweet. Round Goes The Gossip stars the album in a rocky mood with good licks from Akkerman and the only voices recorded in the album. For me the weaker song in the collection is Love Remembered, it doesn't really reach me.

All in all, 4 stars, strong album from Focus!