STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK

Well you could say it's normal for them, but their harsh and brainy execution concerning a few live jam sessions (here you find an extract from a few ones), plus a couple of typical ballads by J. Wetton (always supported by the cello and the mellotron as well, in a remarkable way), create together an unbalanced work. Produced at the famous Air Studios, this album was criticized at that time, as for its uneven features. Therefore you find elements of experimental and avant-garde music within, afterwards reproduced by the so called "Zeuhl Music", even though the melodic lines (sometimes simple and a bit depressed too) by D. Cross and J. Wetton altogether, which was another "trademark" of the original K.C., are pretty anyway. For me that's not enough to let it be as a unique or essential album if you regard of their complete discography, and moreover its discontinuity is quite irritating. yet the skill of the musicians, but also the important "change of route" in the song "The Great Deceiver" (except on the "calmed" tone regarding the vocalism inside the ballads, which sometimes is a bit strident ) could be interesting after all.however by considering the experimental K.C. and for instance another famous album like "Lark's Tongue in Aspic", being always regarded as a much better and more complete work, sometimes at the end you can remain unsatisfied about this "Starless &.": nevertheless you could make your own best choice, according to your preferences!!

Resumed score:

"3 stars" as for a couple of songs, especially "The Great Deceiver"...

"2 stars and an half" as for the controversial choice regarding the jam sessions taken from a live...