SUR LA MER

While the last album was a ready made pop hit, Sur La Mer begins a deviation away from the mainstream. In fact, Sur La Mer is an album of risks and long shots. Justin Hayward takes the drivers seat, taking over a lot of the keyboard duties from Patrick Moraz, and starts getting back to basics, writing emotionally charged power ballads and experimental pop songs, and adding an air of mysticism. The first four songs work really well as sophisticated pop songs with a new age edge. They all hit the mark but especially 'I know you're out there somewhere'.

The second half of the album is quite daring, making inroads into the techno genre sometimes, sounding more folky other times, but doesn't really stack up against the might of the first four songs but it's a well directed ride.