MOROCCAN ROLL

For their second album BRAND X have added a percussionist. I really enjoyed their debut "Unorthodox Behaviour" a lot, but this album has taken a long time to win me over. I think it's partly because the first half of the album in my opinion is much weaker than the second half.

"Sun In The Night" really gets things started on the wrong foot for me.This is an ethnic flavoured tune with Goodsall playing sitar. Sure it's catchy, I just don't like it at all. Phil adds some foriegn vocals but you can't even tell it's him. "Why Should I Lend You Mine (When You've Broken Yours Off Already)..." features some prominant bass from Jones as the drums play lightly and steadily. Other sounds come and go. It settles 5 minutes in before kicking back in after 8 1/2 minutes. It calms down again quickly. Liquid keys are good. The guitar makes some noise 10 1/2 minutes in to the end. "...Maybe I'll Lend You Mine After All" and the previous track are Collins' compositions.This one has a lot of atmosphere in it. "Hate Zone" opens amazingly with a Collins drum solo. The band comes in before a minute. It gets fuller 1 1/2 minutes in. I like this funky tune.

"Collapar" is a very cool sounding song but too short. This is keyboardist Lumley's composition as well as the next one "Disco Suicide". Both are great. The second one is jazzy with some atmospheric keys on it. The tempo and mood keeps changing though. "Orbits" is just Jones and his bass making some noise. "Malaga Virgen" opens like a house on fire before settling somewhat. I like this one. Collins and Goodsall shine. Oh and Jones' bass is all over it. Some nice piano before 6 minutes. The guitar starts to rip it up 8 minutes in to the end as Collins pounds away with precision. Nice. "Macrocosm" is a fantastic song to end the album with. I love the way it starts,great sound. The guitar makes some noise. It starts to pick up 3 minutes in with some excellent guitar as he sets the soundscape on fire. Collins is outstanding as usual. It ends with the sound of people applauding then a jet diving followed by an explosion. That's called a big finish.

I swear this album gets better as it plays out. Well except for "Orbits" that should have been near the start (song #2) of the record. Haha. I'm giving it 4 stars but I refuse to listen to the first song anymore. In fact if there was a way to erase it I would. The rest of the music is very good in my opinion.