ONE

I think anyone who is a fan of SPOCK'S BEARD and TRANSATLANTIC will enjoy this release. There are some nuggets in the bonus disc as well, like "Back To The Garden" bringing to mind the Joni Mitchell written "Woodstock". And "Day After Day" a BADFINGER cover is fantastic, while "I'm Free / Sparks" is my favourite of the bonus material, featuring some outstanding guitar and Neal shouting "I'm free" which certainly has more meaning then the original rendition.

Highlighs for me on the first disc are the chorus in "The Creation" as well as Phil Keaggy's guitar solo. This man is one of the greatest guitarist's of our generation.There is mellotron played during the "One Mind", "In A Perfect Light" and "Where Are You" sections of "The Creation". "The Man's Gone" is a really cool sounding with reserved gentle vocals that I like a lot. My favourite though is the song "Author Of Confusion" opening with heavy, pounding drums and a terrific guitar melody that just smokes.There are GENTLE GIANT-like vocal arrangments and check out Portnoy 9 minutes in, do you think he's having a blast ! I kind of wish this song was heavy throughout instead of the about face after 5 minutes.

"The Seperated Man" is the other epic with mellotron during the "I'm In A Cage" section. I like the "I Am the Man" section best, there is another great guitar solo too.I have to admit i'm not too fond of "Cradle To The Grave", the syrup is flowing too much for me. While "Father Of Forgiveness" and "Reunion" I find both rather weak. I guess if i'm going to sit and listen to a cd for almost 80 minutes the last two tracks better be amazing, and these two are far from that. The sixth song "Help Me / The spirit And The Flesh" has a jazzy feel at times and some good guitar, but how uplifting is "The Spirit And The Flesh" section !

Although this record has it's warts, there certainly is enough great material to give it 4 stars.