AMMONIA AVENUE

I continue my journey through the universe of Alan Parsons Project and have come to 1984 and another bright sounding record of the band. "Ammonia Avenue" is their seventh studio album and a good one. The cover is very industrial and interesting in its own way. It took me two listenings to get enough impressions from it for me to write something. Here the vocalists Eric Woolfson(also keyboards), Lenny Zakatek, Chris Rainbow and Colin Blunstone participate together with guitarist Ian Bairnson, synthesizer player and saxophonist Mel Collins, drummer Stuart Elliot, keyboardist Alan Parsosns, bassist David Paton and bassist Ken Zidar.

The result is in many aspects lovely. This is as I said, a totally bright album. Despite its industrial appearence the music is positive. Perhaps the band looks towards the future with optimism, perhaps am I totally wrong. Some songs and musicians stands out as I think. The starter "Prime time" is very powerful and has a great flow that wants to take you with it. Here Woolfson sings very well. The guitar is worth praising in "Let me go home" and the track "Don't answer me" is so lovely I want to here it again and again. Here and on "Pipeline" Mel Collins' saxophone is totally awesome. The vocals of Colin Blunstone on "Dancing on a highwire" is also something of the best here, it's one of my favourite tracks too. The title track is soft and warm and feels authentic.

Over all holds this music a high standard even if some songs are rather average. I think it is a bit underrated. It's not a very progressive album, but it is a fine part of the Alan Parssons Project discography. It is a safe three star record according to me and some songs are actually very good such as: "Prime time", "Don't answer me", "Dancing on a highwire" and "Ammonia Avenue". Recommended.