THE PRESENT

"The Present" is The Moody Blues' eleventh studio album and it was released thirty-one years ago in 1983. The band, then seems to be in a good state of mind after their last wonderful record from 1981. Like many times before the band, chooses to present their music with an extraordinary beautiful cover picture. This time the motive was antic. I looks like Greek statues beside an urn and in the background we can se a high mountain and in the top leaves. The same line up is represented here as last time with Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge and Patrick Moraz.

I would say the saound of this music had been more pop than on last record and it sounds more like music from the eighties. The compositions are a bit more happy and fast and less complicated. I don't either find the sound as rich as before. Still there is good keyboard work that points out sometimes but I often miss Michael Pinder's organ. Perhaps it's significant that the best song, also is the shortest: "I am" is beautiful, with clear vocals and a majestic atonal feeling(8/10). Beside that track four other is worth the be mentioned. "Going nowhere" has intentions and a appreciate the vocals, the strings, the guitar and the keyboards. It's a song with interesting details(7/10). Also the short march "Hole in the world" has value(7/10) as well as "Running water", a quick pop song which is a good example of this record's eighties pop(7/10). Finally "Sorry" is agood certainly good song where the melody is varied and the keyboard stands out(7/10). On the last record I found that the vocals sometimes sounded like Greg Lake. On this record I found similarities with both Pye Hastings(tracks three) and a hint of 10cc. Two tracks couldn't get my attention: "Under my feet" and "It's cold outside your heart" were quite boring but the rest unmentioned tracks are cosy.

This is overall a good Moody Blues' album which some highlights, even it those peaks aren't so high. It is even as almost every record by this band yet and I think you will enjoy your time. I don't know what will happen later in the 80s but I like what this band has done until now(Until "The Present).