IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU

The masters of melodious music from Canterbury have struck gold only two albums in. As my first exposure to anything Canterbury (and a song from this album no less), Caravan has continued again and again to impress me with what they can come up with with only a few chords. The impression has since extended to other bands from the Scene but I digress . . . If the album title does not snag your interest, the quirky s/t opener track certainly must. Very much in the nature of their first album, except this song adds a bit more complexity to the harmonizing vocals. The following number, "And I Wish I Were Stoned", is a peaceful two-part song structured perfectly for their intended audience. "As I Feel I Die" is where things get serious, and now we have a third element to the album thus far, as well as splendid keyboard work. The first suite to grace the Caravan discography, "With an Ear to the Ground You Can Make It", takes their music to another level of appreciation. Sections that flow seamlessly into one another is no new song archetype for us prog-heads, but the normality of these layouts is irrelevant here because Caravan delivers with soaring melodies and wondrous vocals, and a few jams here and there. Side 2 opens with the single hit "Hello Hello", impossible for any Caravan fan not to like. The interestingly short "Asforteri" track achieves so much with so very little and is, in my mind, the amazing prelude to what will be the band's first epic. "For Richard", my first exposure to Caravan and Canterbury, opens with the most relaxing and ethereal chords I have ever heard, but is soon eclipsed by one of the most epic build-ups I have ever heard, only to be blown up into the best jam/solo sesh I have ever heard. Indeed, this is one of my favorite songs of all time. There is also a section worth mentioning, roughly ten minutes in that completely blows the mind and teleports you to a different world of sensational music. "Limits" is, honestly, not needed but hey, more music is more music and with Caravan that is rarely a bad thing (for a time). I'd also recommend the bonus track "A Day in the Life of Maurice Haylett", which is similar to "As I Feel I Die" as far as structure and tone are concerned. It's catchy and awesome. There. You have your perfect album.