LOVE BEACH

O.K. - not the worlds greatest album, but a cut above most of the mainstream drek at the time. I do have time for this release on the odd occasion, and the album contains some well written rock songs that could get the average listener interested and willing for further investigation of this wonderful band. Not all is lost here - the trio have still given us the intense ballad, 'For You', and another classical interpretation - a complex rendition of a Rodrigo composition, 'Canario'. This one is very proggy but too short. The side-long suite (actually 4 seperate parts which are only held together in concept) have their moments for sure. Keith has ditched his Hammond and stuck with mainly pianos (some beautiful Grand Piano parts are present), synths (Yamaha, Korg and Moog) and a clavinet, Greg Lake actually turns in some fine vocals but his bass playing takes more of a back-seat while he concentrates on guitar, and, in all honesty, Carl Palmer does a really good job with his Percussive work throughout. Still, lyricist Pete Sinfield writes some cheezy lines, and overall, this album, whilst I prefer it to the Works Volumes, is really one for the completist - not bad, but not grandiose either. I've decided to up this record to 3 stars because Carl Palmer is actually outstanding and really brings this music to life.