5

At last Tony Banks has created the album I always felt he was capable of making. No compromises here, this is just stunning, beautiful music all the way through, filled with the exquisite melodies over intriguing chord changes that would happen in sections throughout his career. Finally, we have an entire album of this. Whereas I felt 'Six' was a clear progression from 'Seven', 'Five' equally progresses from 'Six'. The liner notes give reasons for this, where things could be worked out to a fuller degree. On top of this the compositions themselves are stronger, in my opinion. The unique Banks sound, augmented by his subtle piano playing throughout is much more present. 'Wow' moments abound, in every piece, but perhaps never stronger than the glorious final section of 'Renaissance'. There are occasions throughout his career that certain songs or pieces of his would affect me in curious ways, playing on my emotions in a way, and to a level that no other artist seemed to reach. This section, as well as several others, affect me at least to that degree, if not more so. This is his finest hour, the most glorious album of his career, largely due to the fact that he is not sharing the writing with, and please excuse me for this, but, inferior writers. The fact that it is orchestral doesn't bother me a bit. In fact, I find it marvelous. It was always the instrumental sections of his that were the best anyway.

Favorite tracks: Ebb and Flow, Renaissance