JOHN GREAVES, PETER BLEGVAD & LISA HERMAN: KEW. RHONE.

I would probably think a lot higher of this if Robert Wyatt was singing. The focus here is definitely on the vocals and concept of this album. I've never been a fan of concept albums for that reason. Give me great music that's all I ask for. Peter Blegvad wrote the lyrics while John Greaves composed the music. The music is mostly laid back with horns and piano often standing out,but like I said the focus is on the singing (male and female). I acknowledge that the lyrics here border on brilliant, and I can appreciate why many consider this a masterpiece. I do prefer Greaves' "Songs" album more.

"Good Evening" is sort of a lazy sounding tune with horns to get us warmed up. "Twenty-Two Proverbs" is more urgent sounding as male then female vocals come in. Horns before 2 minutes. Vocals are back after 3 minutes. "Seven Scenes From The Painting" opens with piano as reserved female vocals come in. It sounds sort of loungey if you know what I mean 1 1/2 minutes in. It turns serious as these contrasts continue. "Kew Rhone" is piano and female vocal led early. Male vocals, horns and some violin follow.

"Pipeline" is again led by female vocals and piano. Bass, drums and horns help out. Lots of horns late. "Catalogue Of Fifteen Objects & Their Titles" features reserved female vocals and piano. It picks up as other sounds join in. Male vocals around 2 minutes. "One Footnote (To Kew Rhone)" is mostly horns and drums as vocals come in late. "Three Tenses Onanism" opens with piano. Male vocals before 2 minutes. It's dissonant followed by a calm before almost spoken vocals end it. "Nine Mineral Emblams" opens with female vocals. The tempo picks up. I'm not into this one at all. The horns are good though before 4 1/2 minutes. "Apricot" is better with male vocals. The horns after 2 minutes sound great. "Gegenstand" puts the focus on the almost spoken female vocals.

I much prefer Robert Wyatt's solo work which is of a similar style but this has grown on me to the point where I can give it a low 4 stars.