WINDOWS

One of my first review was dedicated to "Taï Phong"'s debut album. A very good one and a souvenir of my youth. This album is a nice follow-up even if the brilliance of their first release is not to be found here. Good compositions like the opener "When It's the Season" are more than welcome. It is probably the most elaborate and accomplished song of the whole.

"Games" is another attempt for "Sister Jane". But this one was a jewel of a melody while this one one can't really compete with. Just pleasant. This album sounds more commercial. Some nice melodies (but often mellow) fully ranges the band in the symph prog genre like "St. John's Avenue". What a great harmony ! And listen to the final guitar solo. Absolutely gorgeous. The whole band is on par, especially the drumming. A highlight.

If you like the early "Genesis" ("Trespass") there are high chances that "Circle" will pleases you a lot (like it does to me). Almost pastoral intro, gentle instrumental featuring spacey keys, emotional guitar (very much "Howe" oriented) an so melodic a piano. Another highlight. Which is not the case for "Last Chance". A short acoustic song featuring poor vocals.

Like the band did on their debut album, the closing number is the longest one of this album. The long instrumental intro (over seven minutes) featuring some Spanish acoustic guitar is not very exciting. This song has nothing to do with the great "Out Of The Night". The second part of the album does not hold the comparison with the first one.

There is an expanded version for this album featuring three bonus tracks. Nothing unforgetable, don't worry. "Dance" is a mellowish ballad featuring very high-pitched Goldman vocals, some violins and a very repetitive chorus. The "Sister Jane" syndrome, I guess...Same sort of song type with "Back Again". A pop-rock ballad, on the mellowish and not very interesting side I'm afraid. The third bonus "Cherry" is all of the same : a syrupous ballad, dispensible I guess.

These "bonus" releases are not at all necessary for your "Taï Phong" discography. On the contrary.

This album is just good. Far less appealing than their debut one. Not bad an effort of course. Five out of ten would be more accurate.