DRAGONFLY

Dragonfly is second studio album from Strawbs. Its a nice melodic folk album. Its even more acoustic than theirs first studio release "Strawbs" but also richer in sound ( thanks to the great cello) and like that its a progression forward. That is " visible " in first two tracks "The Weary Song" and "Dragonfly" which clearly gain another dimension with appearance of cello. "I Turned My Face Into The Wind" its a piano and cello driven song. No matter that is (musically) very simple somehow is typical Strawb song with its mystical lyrics. "Josephine, For Better Or For Worse" is a beautiful acoustic love song. "Another Day" is also worthy of mentioning it's a cheerful little number. " 'Till The Sun Comes Shining Through" and " Young Again " are two weakest trucks on album not considering the last one (which I am not considering at all). They are to simple and bit of a boring with the groovy filing they are sending. "The Vision Of The Lady Of The Lake" is the only song here in which we are treated with a story. Music starts in a similar folksy way as the others track while singing slowly introduces us with a tale. Everything flows normally when after exactly 5 minutes after surprising drumming roll music evolves in much stronger progressive sound. Really great last five minutes of track with strong music and singing full of passion, like band was only showing what are they capable of.

General feeling is that this album could be much more if it was released (or created) later in their more progressive period because songs are very well written and they have very god potential. But in other way maybe this was only a step in progression they had to pass. Anyway. No matter that this is not a prog album music here is still surprisingly fresh and rich and I thing it has more to offer than to collectors and fans only. Non-essential but good.