NICOLA

There is a bit of prog here, which is evident in the presence of jazz drumming, alternating meters, strings, a piano, and a flute. Also, Bert took on more of traditional ditties, which maintained his reputation as a folk revivalist.

Just because you are seeing three stars here doesn't mean that you must avoid this album. There are quite a few decent numbers here. The album opens with a dark 'Go Your Way My Love', followed by a gentle and splendid 'Woe is Love My Dear'. In the middle we have 'Little Sweet Sunshine', a little, sweet, and successful mix of Motownesque pop with blues. If this is R&B, then it is R&B of a caliber very different from the one I used to know.

After that we have 'Rabbit Run', which I assumed to be a song that is literally about a rabbit and other forest animals, but then I was a bit confused when I found out that the rabbit was on a motorcycle. So, we are talking about a young hobo on a bike. I like the 'nature' version better than the 'human' version, though. Plus, I really admire Bert's technique of juggling those catchy melodies in the middle and in the treble. Also, I like the interplay of the vocal melodies.

Then you get 'Life Depends on Love'. The songwriting on this little piece of chocolate isn't important; it's the arrangement and the melodies that count, which is why I really like that song. As for the rest of the album, you decide whether it works or not.

By the way, if the musical and lyrical resemblances to Bob Dylan here bug you in some way or another, do yourself a favor: please, don't take them seriously.

Ratings/comments (if you have to ask):

1. 'Go Your Way My Love' - ***** ; 2. 'Woe is Love My Dear' - **** ; 3. 'Nicola' - *** ; 4. 'Come Back Baby' - ** ; 5. 'Little Sweet Sunshine' - **** ; 6. 'Love is Teasing' - ** ; 7. 'Rabbit Run' - ***** ; 8. 'Life Depends on Life' - **** ; 9. 'Weeping Willow Blues' - ** ; 10. 'Box of Love' - ** ; 11. 'Wish My Baby Was Here' - *** ; 12. 'If the World isn't There' - **

Stamp: 'I like it.'