SEVEN

On the surface, this seems a decent album. The playing is of a good quality, the songs progress nicely, and the writing is strong. But too often, one is reminded so strongly of bands such as Yes and Genesis that it seems this is only a cheap imitation. The guitar lines frequently sound almost exactly like vintage Steve Howe, and the keyboard parts are overly reminiscent of Tony Banks. They are well-written, certainly, but lack any originality. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but this is not a tribute album - it is supposed to be completely original work. The production also lets the album down, as the music often sounds flat (in tone, not pitch) and has no real spark to it. All in all, a well-written but unoriginal album. It is not unpleasant to listen to, but one does not gain anything from hearing it.