DÉJÀ FOU

I was quite interested to listen to the line-up who released one of the best Strawbs album. It was back in '74 with Hero & Heroine. In the meantime, my feeling is that when you listen to this work is that the great inspiration of those remote days has gone away and that this album sounds rather flat.

Some good folk tunes, no doubt (If). The ones who were expecting some return to a more symphonic side of their work won't get it. No mellotron, very little keyboards in general and a lot of acoustic guitar.

The country-rock Cold Steel brings some rhythm to the whole which is seriously lacking of diversity. Some songs being really on the minimalist side like Sunday Morning. This Barren Land reminds me seriously Jerusalem (from ELP) during the vocal parts. The whole melody is just reproduced; but on a lower tone. Not a bad song after all.

Highlights are difficult to find. The rocking Russian Front could have been one of those, but both the intro and the closing parts are weak. It should work pretty good on stage though. The last ballad of this album is one of my fave: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow is quite melancholic and moving. It is a very delicate piece of music which contrast with a very, hum, special closing track.

I believe that a great opportunity have been missed here. Sometimes, such a reunion leads to a very good album (as Kansas did for instance). Two stars for Already Crazy - Déjà Fou.