IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD

Disappointing Moody Blues followup to the excellent conceptual classic "Days of Future Passed". "In Search of the Lost Chord" doesn't hold a candle to that album but it's still got good moments that are worth mentioning.

'Ride my see-saw' is easily the greatest track on the album, always present on Greatest hits compilations, it is a 60s psychedelic single that reminds me of early Pink Floyd. The lyrics are pysch city; "Ride, ride my see-saw, Take this place, On this trip Just for me, Ride, take a free ride, Take my place, Have my seat It's for free" The harmonies are wonderous and it has a driving rhythm that captures the glorious scene of the flower power late 60s; the dance-centred scene with go-go girls swishing their mini-skirts and shaking their bum length blonde hair; it is an essential sound.

'Dr. Livingstone, I presume?' is as close to The Beatles as the band gets. It is average but catchy after a few listens with some great guitar licks.

'House of four doors pt1 and pt2' is a progalicious track with weird music, magic mellotron, and weirder special effects including doors closing and opening and the doors are signifiers to new sections and new time changes; no complaints to the creative innovative nature of the band.

'Legend of a mind' is another classic that most Moody Fans would be familiar with. I like the lyrics on this; "Timothy Leary's dead, No, no, no, He's outside looking in, He'll fly his astral plane, Takes you trips around the bay, Brings you back the same day, Timothy Leary". Leary was the psych drug king who influenced this generation of 1968 and was himself an icon of pyschedelica and the Haight Ashbury scene. The Moody Blues knew it and capitalised on it with this track. The song features some very proggy mellotron sounds and an odd meter with intriguing structures. Another excellent track.

'Voices in the sky' is a low point with simple sugary sickly sweet lyrics and melodies. There is a track called 'Om' with memorable cheese such as "OM, The rain is on the roof, Hurry high, butterfly, As clouds roll past my head I know why the skies all cry, Om, Om, Heaven, Om..." you get the general idea.

The other tracks I have forgotten.

So that sums it all up. A so so album with some good songs. I was bitterly disappointed.

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