BLIND DOG AT ST. DUNSTANS

Blind dog at St. Dunstans from 1976 is Caravan's seventh studio record. It feels like an even and well produced Caravan fragment. The cover is funny with a clothed dog in the front. The people on this record is mostly the same as on "Cunning stunts" with the difference that David Sinclair has left and been replaced by Jan Schekhaas which plays keyboard on this record. As before Jimmy Hastings contributes with wind instruments. It's a long lp with some excellent moments but not those highlights heard on earlier albums.

Blind dog at St Dunstans is in no way a bad record and for Caravan fans there is a lot to recognize such as Pye Hastings' mild voice and the joyful melodies. The viola gives the music a needed deep and the band shows its poetic performances over the full album. My favourite tracks here are "Chief and Indians" and "A very smelly grubby little oik" but many more are worth listening to.

Absolutely no track is bad or boring. The album has a high and even standard. But something is still missing. This is a declining Caravan. Even if songwriting still is good it feels musically there must be some form of lack of ideas. Last record had jazzy parts and Caravan uses to go crazy in its own sophisticated ways. This record doesn't take a stand. Not a masterpiece I must still acknowledge Caravan for their ability to continue make intelligent records. I look forward to listen to "Better by far" if I happen to find it. Others have mentioned David Sinclair's keyboards are missing on "Blind dog..." and I agree. That is also a difference between the records from 75 and 76. For me it's remarkably this record has better rating than "Cunning Stunts" but in other hand that one is more poupular. Listen to this yourself!

All tracks: Chief and Indians(8/10), A very smelly grubby little Oik(8/10), Here am I(7/10), Can you tell me(7/10), Come on back(7/10), All the way(7/10), Bobbing Wide(6/10), Jack and Jill(6/10) and Oik(6/10) makes the review 3,5 which becomes 3 stars!