SOMEWHERE I'VE NEVER TRAVELLED

This album is the middle of the three "good" Ambrosia albums. In some ways it surpasses the first, but there's also a little bit of unevenness here so overall it isn't as strong. The short introduction of "And", segueing into the title track, makes a promising start. "Cowboy Star" is a look into the mind of a nostalgic dreamer, with a startling surprise in the instrumental middle section. The first weak tune here is "Runnin' Away", slipping into a pop music vein.

"Harvey" is a simple and elegant plea, short yet convincing. "I Wanna Know" brings us back to rock, more mainstream than prog. The album peaks on the next two tracks, "The Brunt" and "Danse With Me George". The first of these has some terrific sound effects, from thundering herds to the sound of coffee pouring (audible as the herds vanish in the distance and the singer returns to reality). The second tells the story of Chopin and George Sand and their curious relationship. The piano and orchestra soar to great heights at the end, and then, in a rather ingenious touch, the final resolved chord dissolves into chaotic dissonance.

"Can't Let a Woman" returns us again to the more mundane world of rock. The album closes with a weak track, "We Need You Too".