EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR

After their acoustic-oriented previous effort 'A Quetion of Balance', The Moody Blues gladly resumed their panache for keyboard technology (massive use of mellotron, that is) and impressive sonic variations in the context of song-format on 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour': they even incorporated a Mini-Moog in their pretentious instrumental arsenal. But the start of the album is the least song-oriented thing the Moodies had done so far: 'Procession' is actually a historical procession through some passages of the hidtory of music, from basic tribal drumming (played through Moog effects) to African hymns to Hindu cadence to pastoral Renaissence to baroque harpsichord to Haendelian pipe organ to Tschaikovsky post-romantic grandeur... this amazing sequence links its grand finale to the catchy track 2 'The Story in Your Eyes' (the single'). Things get softer and more vulnerable with Thomas-penned semi-ballad 'Our Guessing Game', a beautiful tune qhich is treated and arranged with taste and not too much overload. The next two tracks are also personal, though I don't find them as moving as 'Our Guessing Game', since they are somehow quite formulaic: 'Emily's Song' is your regular acoustic ballad with some childlike ambience, and 'After You Came' is your Who-esque pop tune. Tha last four tracks fulfill the IMHO most accomplished sequence of this album's repertoire. 'One More Time to Live' is a cleverly harmonized reflection on the world's degradation, with a healthy touch of hope incorporated; 'Nice to be Here' is a Celtic tune that shows Thomas' flute and Hayward's lead guitar displaying an interesting dialogue while a bunch of high-spirited forestmen drum along in a playful Sunday kermesse; 'You Can Never Go Home' brings us back to the melancholy realms of Hayward's heart; and speaking about melancholy, not even Hayward can equal Pinder, whose mini-suite 'My Song' combines symphonic splendour and intellectual despair resulting in one of his most overwhelming efforts to the band's career. 'My Song' includes a mysterious, beautiful interlude where the Mini-Moog and flute set the pace for the chorale, which shines supported by a pompous symphonic wall of sound created by layers of mellotron, colours of lead guitar, and a rhythm section of drum kit, bass and tympani - what a way to close this album! I happen to enjoy this album almost as much as 'To Our Children's...' (my fav Moodies album), but I admit that 'Every Good Boy...' doesn't keep an evened level of energy and creativity.