BREATHLESS

If you are as likely to spin a pop or jazz or r&b record as a progressive record, I think this is the album for you. For me, the songs blend seamlessly, touching on prog, pop, jazz, even disco and new wave themes. The opener is a pastoral pop selection with jangling guitars and a lovely soundscape. Then the album kicks into overdrive with the proggish "Echoes" and my favorite song on the record, "Wing and a Prayer". Next, it's "Down on the Farm" with it's Who-ish opening and killer refrain that I can hum all day long. The only thing I don't like about this song is that is makes a farm seem all grins and gaffs, and being a Winsconsinite I know it's backbreaking, arduous, 24 hour 365 day work. No farmer I know slips down to the tavern for a pint at lunchtime and then nails the barmaid in the woods.

At any rate, the second side is almost as strong as the first, the highlights (for me) being the prog/dance "Summer Lightning" and "You Make Me Smile", which almost sounds like an Alan Parsons or Roxy Music outtake.

All in all, I'd say it's not for traditional progsters, but I love it. You can have your Mirage and Moonmadness, I'll take Richard Sinclair's familiar voice and the pop stylings of "Breathless".