THE MUSE AWAKENS

It was a pleasure to hear that Happy The Man had regrouped to create a new album a few years ago. It is a disappointment that this comeback appears to have only lasted for one album.

This album is very much like the original HTM albums. It is somewhere between symphonic prog and fusion. Some of the fusion is quite light. And there are a few stunning tracks to keep things interesting. Happily, most of the light pieces, like The Muse Awakens and Stepping Through Time have sections that either step up the intensity, or add some complexity to keep things interesting. In fact, the only track that doesn't grab me at all is Slipstream, which might feel at home on a Kenny G album.

The standout tracks are Contemporary Insanity, Lunch At The Psychedelicatessen, Barking Spiders and Il Quinto Mare. Is it a coincidence that the best songs also have the best titles? Each of these tracks are in the upper echelons of HTM's repertoire.