SITUATION DANGEROUS

The album opens with perhaps its weakest number, a rather pedestrian fast-slow-fast- slow hard rock piece that fades into oblivion without any real conclusion. The second track is immediately recognizable as a BLS piece, but carves a new niche. The first part of it much more laid back than anything else these guys have done, accented by Levin's electric cello playing (that might remind many of his solo album Waters of Eden). Bozzio's characteristic drumming - his sporadic snare drum playing and extremely accomplished cymbal usage - is here in spades. And, of course, the nimble and mostly tasteful playing from Stevens that surprised so many on Black Light Syndrome is still just as good.

Overall there's less of an overt King Crimson feel on this album than on the first. There are two of Stevens' flamenco showcases on this album ("Spiral" and "Tziganne"), and I think they're stronger than the two on the previous album, mostly because his playing is a bit more melodic here. Other highlights for me include the sublime opening to "Lost" and the laid-back jam feel of "Tragic".

None of this is going to knock anyone's socks off; the compositions are competent but not great, and the performances are excellent but not transcendent. Nevertheless, it's a solid instrumental rock outing, and there's definitely something to be said for that. I'd put it about on par with Black Light Syndrome, perhaps not quite as good, but still very enjoyable. It's a solid 3 stars album for prog fans, a 4 stars if you are a fusion die hard.