THE RAINMAKER

On the one hand I like this album even a bit more than SPACE REVOLVER since it does not contain any song being a complete failure. But on the other hand I've got to say as well that this one is again not one of their strongest ones. Just because it's lacking completely their epic symphonic instrumental parts which is without any doubt musically their strongest field and my favorite of them. THE RAINMAKER is a more song- oriented album and although there are not such highlights as Circus Brimstone or Rumble Fish Twist it's a quite good and very homogeneous one. The album is very well balanced between more rocking and more mellow parts. The highlights are of course the three long tracks Last Minute On Earth having some rather heavy parts, Road To Sanctuary with great instrumental sections and City Of Angels which reminds very much to YES in their heyday. But the rest of the songs is good as well, the title track is a classical one inspired by Ravel's Bolero and in Elaine and Blessing Of A Smile we can enjoy once again the great sax playing by guest musician Ulf Wallander.

Overall THE RAINMAKER is an album bearing not any innovations nor experiments but nevertheless a very good one and a nice listen with lots of excellent prog rock songs.