STEREOTOMY

"Stereotomy" from 1985 is Alan Parsons Project's ninth studio album and twenty-nine years has gone since its release. It follows the very pop-oriented Vulture Culture and is a blue record with a light blue bull head as cover sign.

It features many of those musicians who have worked together for many years: David Paton, Stuart Elliott, Ian Bairnson, Richard Cottle, Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons, John Miles, Chris Rainbow, Gary Brooker, Graham Dye and Steve Dye. It's now very clear it's not the seventies and especially the drumming sounds very modern unfortunately.

Though does the record start strong with its title track "Stereotomy", a powerful rock song with fine vocals and a feeling of strong chours. It both starts and ends the album(7/10). Otherwise aren't there especially strong songs even if the quality is high and I like what I hear almost everywhere. "Light of the world" has some lovely aspects but is a little weak(5/10) but the instrumental "Urbania" is a good composition with modern ingredients(6/10). Other decent songs are "Beaujolais"(5/10), "Limelight"(5/10) and "In the real world"(5/10). The instrumental "Where's the Walrus" is the only thing I feel is so boring you shouldn't listen to it. Otherwise is the record rather decent.

I wouldn't call it progressive but thatis never a criteria when I rate records. It's strong title track, the fine work of the musicians and my good mood make me rate this to a weak three. I'd especially recommend "Stereotomy" and "Urbania" but rather listen to another Alan Parsons Project' record.