PASSION

In my review of Pure I uttered my frustration about the change of course by Barrett/Pendragon. So what is one to do with the next release ? Stay behind and turn one's back one the band that has been so important to me for such a long time ? Or try to evolve with them or at least keep following their career ? I decided to do the last thing but whether that means that I am able to evolve along with the guys, hmmm....

I'm afraid is too much asked from someone who loved them so much as I did back in the nineties. So I will try to judge them as a sort of new band who made a new album. Probably that's the best thing in my personal state. And then this is actually not a bad album at all I have to admit. There are two things that are in the advantage to this latest one and those are being unpredictable (compared to the past) and their undisputed musicianship. Because if you dare to call these guys poor musicians there is something wrong with your musical understanding I believe.

Their being unpredictable last few years is shown all through Passion without any doubt. I mean, they are doing all sorts of things in the various tracks (In this green and pleasant Land !) one would never have thought they were even capable of let alone one would think they would ever compose. Whatever you feel of a song like I just mentioned it's for sure 100% prog and it's also highly original (I mean: yodel ?? c'mon people :).

So in the end there are things to be said in the benefit of the album but are there also downsides ? Well, one could say at the same time it's all a bit over the top where the originality is concerned but then it becomes a complex story to judge whether it's a good or bad thing. If you are conservative (and in fact I am to be honest) you could call this over the top indeed. But if you are truly progressive and can't get enough of evolution and a high grade of originality this one is certainly for you. And personally I'm left behind with a headache for the ultimate rating. It's another very tough call between 3 and 4 stars once more. I feel Pure was a better album and was already rounded up in my case to 4 stars. So for the moment I give three but I leave open the possibility to go to four in course of time. Because I heard from several sources this is supposed to be a grower ... (to be continued ?). 3,5 stars for now rounded down. But I wouldn't want to call it non-essential though