BREATHLESS

Althrough this album is a little bit poppy at some parts, there's no doubt it is a prog album. There are not as many instrumental parts as before, but the characteristic atmospheres are kept. It's a great soft- prog album to relax with, with nice guitars, atmospheric keyboards and some good flute parts.

Breathless starts out good, like a beutiful rising sun in the morning. It's much of a pop/rock song but a rather original one however. Not this plastic kind of pop, there is a soul in this song. 7/10

Echoes is, for me, the highlight of the album. It is a very progressive song, which starts out with a good guitar riff, followed by a slower tempo and some atmospheric, lush keyboards, followed by another guitar-based part and then developes into the vocal part of the song. Camel at their best. 9/10

Wing And a Prayer is another song in the same vein of the title track. Good song. 7/10

Then Down on the Farm arrives, which really is an unexpected one. Much pop over this song, and sadly, a lot of irritating sounds I don't consider as very funny. Still enjoyable, despite the irritating sound effects. 6/10

Starlight Ride is a very slow atmospheric song. It mostly consists of lush, mellow keyboards, some noodling on guitar and then the vocals. A highlight. 8/10

Summer lightning follows, which is one of the most commercial sonmgs on this album (together with you make me smile). It's a prog-disco hybrid. Althrough some members here seems to think it's too commercial, I enjoy it very much, especially the long guitar solo which almost gives me shivers along my backbone. A good song. 7/10

You Make Me Smile however, is the only song here that's just an throw away. Boring song with cheesy bass and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. 5/10

The Sleeper is, together with Echoes, one of the pure progressive songs. However it's not as good, and maybe a little bit repetative. It's still a quite good song. 7/10 Rainbows End really fits as a closer of the album. It's a mellow song with melancholic lyrics. 7/10

I really enjoy this album and want to give it the four star rating, cause it deserves a better ranking here. It's definitive an excelent addition to any progressive music collection. Just remember there are some pop oriented songs and if you can't stand such things you better keep your money or spend them on something else. 3.6 rounded up to 4 rather weak stars. Still, I feel a little bit generous...