THE ROAD

With any concept album, in order to fully appreciate it not only do you need to have a basic understanding of the concept, but also feel an affinity with the message it conveys. Well, the message here is an head-in-the-clouds hippy ideal of "a journey of Love from an embryonic stage right the way through to Man" incorporating much religious [specifically - Christian] imagery along the way, with quasi-theological musings and new-age lyrics sometimes bordering on trite. I confess this sort of thing is not my cup-of-tea!

Musically, The Road is a curious mish-mash of styles from the mid to late 60s, notably early Bee Gees and some relics of psychedlia, but mostly it is akin to rock/pop musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, played on a varying combination of orchestral and rock instrumentation with an emphasis on acoustic ones. Acoustic guitars are prevalent courtesy of the Hackett brothers Steve and John. For the pre-Genesis Steve this was his first experience of a recording studio, but it is curious to know how he got involved with this project which was the brainchild of otherwise unknown Heather brothers from South Africa.

Despite my aversion to the concept, I find there are some good songs: First Light, Loneliness And Grief and the shorter, simpler Bee Gees like Traveller and Love Is Walking can happily stand as good pop/rock songs of their age, though it seems to me they belong more to the mid-60s than to 1970. Though dated, The Road has a musical charm that might appeal to a child of the times or those attracted by its concept. Steve Hackett completists will also be interested but don't expect anything too sophisticated.

In general I have difficulty raising any enthusiasm for this music, and must suggest it is not worthy of a general recommendation.