ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM

"Days of Future Passed" was unique if only (but not only) for using an orchestra both between and within songs, and "In Search of the Lost Chord" successfully transitioned to the mellotron while incorporating more of the predominant psychedelic influences of its time. Both established a new sound distinct from their peers while seemingly operating within the same world, which makes their singularity all the more remarkable. With few notable exceptions, "On the Threshold of a Dream" finds the group falling backwards into the cliches of their time.

The intro "In the Beginning" is your classic fun fare reminiscent of the intro to "In Search of..", and "Lovely to See you" is a fair catchy pop number with some good guitars, but "Dear Diary" and "So Deep within you sound" more like The Doors than the Moody Blues, but not even that good. Forgettable ditties like "Send me no Wine" and "To Share our Love" could almost have been prepared by Moodys Mach 1 or any other late 1960s chart band, although they lack the requisite hooks to reach for the charts. Even "Never Comes the Day" could have been better without the awkward up tempo chorus clashing with the undeniably classic melody of the verse. It also suggests the inspiration or BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST's "Love is Like a Violin" that appeared in 1977. The "Have You Heard/The Voyage" combination may be pleasing to prog fans but is really not where the band's strengths lie, and was better explored in the "Four Doors/Legend of Mind" juxtaposition on "In Search of..", though I admit enjoying Pinder cut loose a bit on piano for a change.

While not the stuff of nightmares, "On The Threshold of a Dream" is the weakest of the 7 classics, and to my mind is not one at all. Fails to convincingly surpass the 2.5 star threshold.