BARREN DREAM

3.5 stars. A step up in every way from the second album "Dirge" but I still have problems enjoying this one other than that incredible 12 minute opener called "AllThe Fallen People" but even on this one I have issues. This band is a trio with multi instrumentalist Kazuhiro Miyatake playing flute, guitar, synths, bass, accordion, mellotron and keyboards. His alias is Mr. Sirius. Lisa is almost all vocals here with some piano while we also get a drummer. Three guests including two guitarists playing on one song each and mini-moog on one track from another musician.

I'm going to get hate mail for this one but this just isn't an album I enjoy other than the opener. The opener repeats themes and has a very good bass section. Quite a lot of vocals along with flute, accordion and piano. Two things that are prominent on this album that I have a hard time with are those orchestral sounds generated through his keyboards. He also has a sampler and a synth called a "super orchestra". Anyway I wish he'd ditched that and used his mellotron samples in those sections. Lisa has a great voice but I'm not into them most of the time. So sugary and sometimes almost operatic. Like a Broadway singer you could say. So yeah she can sing. Very much an up and down record for me and one I can't in good conscience give 4 stars to. No this is not Canterbury.