CRAFTY HANDS

A solid follow-up to Happy the Man's masterpiece debut. While this album only has one track with vocals, compared to the previous album's two, it doesn't feel tiresome to listen to as one would expect from an almost entirely instrumental album. Crafty Hands only falls short of its predecessor in that the tracks are more repetitive and less wild with the musicianship, speaking of course about tracks like Knee-Bitten Nymphs In Limbo, the likes of which are absent here.

Still, Happy the Man succeeds in bringing back the sound of the first album while exploring enough new ground on Service With a Smile, Wind Up Doll Day Wind, and Open Book. There aren't any truly weak tracks; it just lacks one that's completely off the charts. Shorter, softer, and less ambitious than before, but still an album that's worthwhile for any prog collection.

Service With a Smile: 9/10 Morning Sun: 7/10 Ibby It Is: 8/10 Steaming Pipes: 7/10 Wind Up Doll Day Wind: 8/10 Open Book: 9/10 I Forgot To Push It: 8/10 The Moon, I Sing (Nossuri): 7/10

Total: 8/10