WORLDS APART

The producer and recording musician Rupert Hine is really a great secret weapon on this album. Saga had already become a band capable of writing great crossover neoprog songs, but with the refinement of the production the band's music is lifted to a higher plane. I already listened to live versions of tracks like 'On the Loose' and 'Wind Him Up', but I was quite surprised how fresh and detailed these album versions sounded. The band's eighties 'pump' energy is still there, but the layers of synths, the overall sound stage (hugeness of the music) and the dynamics on this record are quite something. Of course the drums have that typical eighties sound and the fills sound particularly dated here. However, the production alone of 'Wind Him Up' makes this a mandatory listen to fans of eighties progressive music. The original vinyl sounds brilliant though and I suspect a more modern remaster will have a bit more to offer on the low-end. The song-writing quality of Saga has never been very consistent and this record is no exception. Whereas the before mentioned tracks are staples of eighties prog rock, most other tracks are more regular eighties synth drenched rock songs. The ballad 'No Regrets' is however a nice melodic oddity with keyboards and a beautiful clarinet part. The production on this track is particularly intelligent as well. The slightly odd instrumental 'Conversations' has its progressive moments as well. The song 'Framed' has a great solo section in that classic Saga fashion (keyboard and guitar interplay). 'The Interview' is a simple song, but at least the main riff is really catchy. Again, the build-up of the song is well supported by the production. The ending track 'No Stranger (Chapter VIII)' also shows the band throwing some creative multi-part songwriting in the mix, as well as ending the record with some powerful hard rock sounds. In the end I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoy this record and I will find myself a copy of 'Heads or Tales'.