THE TURN OF A FRIENDLY CARD

I hardly give an album the score of 4 stars, but I think this is the album from APP that one should listen to first if they wanted to get to know the band. I myself was really surprised, having thought of checking this band out for a long time, this album is very good. It's a very melodic and beautiful album.

Of course, Mr. Parsons is a keyboardist, most of all, and the fact that the record is from 80s says a lot. So if you're not bothered by some neo tunes or a straightforward drumming, I recommend this album.

There are some class one acts such as Time, The Gold Bug, Ace of Swords and of course both parts of Turn of a Friendly Card. The rest are class two but close behind. The first one, May be a Price to pay is an easy access track which is a bit more commercially oriented, though not radio material in my opinion. APP brings out the wanted progressive aspect in the use of instruments and melodies, perhaps not so often in the time signature.

Games that People Play is the only track that leaves me a bit empty, but I'm sure that's just a personal opinion. It's a bit too straightforward, being almost a dance-to track, but still not a filler. It seems like the album follows an unwritten concept, and everything is planned.

Well, Time; time's a great thing to write about. We've all heard the Pink Floyd song, and in a sense, I was kind of reminded of that one. Mostly probably, because I read the name of the song first. This one is very soft and melodic, it's a slow song with a lot of atmosphere. A brilliant track in my opinion.

Can't say too much of The Gold Bug. It's obvious Mr. Parsons liked this one himself. It's an instrumental track that made it to the collection, though it does seem to require the rest of the album with it. Taken out of context, well, it doesn't give all as it does with the album we're speaking of.

Turn of a Friandly Card parts 1 & 2 are of course written around the same concept. It's basically the same song which is later introduced in its full glory at the very end of the album. a common structure in progressive music. I really love the melody here, this softens me everytime, and most of the girls too once you get them in the mood. The guitar is brilliant, and I love how in part 2 the song really builds up to give you the shivers. Mr. Parsons always had a talent with using the horns, and here too, the song gets a really ambitious addition, which however is never a miss.

Snake Eyes, right after the first part brings you back to ground a bit. It's a good symphonic song, and but not as good as what comes before or after it. A bit monotonuos, it's something I assume most might want to skip if they're looking for the best parts.

Especially when obviously the best part comes right after. I fell in love with Ace of Swords. It's powerful, it's ongoing, it's melodic. Everything APP does at their best!

Nothing left to lose descends nicely to the ending of the album. Basically these few tracks seem more like a passage to the better ones that are coming. I'd find it really odd, that as a notable band, APP would have performed live without the songs I meantioned in the beginning, basically just adding the passageways. But a concept is not a concept if it's not whole, that's my opinion.

Thinking it over, I think I still won't be giving this one a 4 star review. In my opinion, I got a few too many - and not enough +. It's basically that the record is really really good, but still, not essential... Which seems to be the thing with Mr. Parsons music throughout times.