WAKEMAN WITH WAKEMAN [AKA: LURE OF THE WILD]

While for obvious marketing purposes this album is credited in large print to RICK WAKEMAN, the performance is in fact by Rick and his son Adam (assisted by Stuart Sawney on percussion and programming). They don't actually play together much, Adam writes and performs entirely two of the tracks, contributes organ to one, and solos on two others. Only on "Jiggajig" do we really get both Wakemans together. This is unfortunate, as the track is little more than an elaborate chopsticks for two pianos.

The album is entirely instrumental. Rick sticks to his well know synthesiser sounds most of the time, varying the pace from track to track, but from time to time the sound lapses into new age muzak.

I am reminded regularly throughout the album of Wakeman's "Six wives". This album has similarities to that masterpiece, but the compositions are not so strong and it lacks the uniqueness that album had. Wakeman has perhaps visited the well once too often since.

The best track is the 9 minute "Caesarea", indeed a friend cites this as his all time favourite track by Wakeman. I wouldn't go that far, but it's certainly an inspired performance, with time and mood changes plus strong melodies.

The album closes with an interpretation of Jagger/Richards' "Paint it black", which is performed in a jazz manner. The theme is played out a few times before Wakeman (Rick) improvises around it, returning from time to time to the main theme.

"Lure of the wild" certainly stands out from the mass of new age and muzak albums Wakeman has released. It falls short however of his classic works. The recordings were made on the Isle of Man where Wakeman lived, and there's s definite feeling here of being just a little too comfortable.

As Rick tells on his official website, this album was almost completely finished before Adam Wakeman came on board. It was decided at the last minute that this would be released as a "Wakeman with Wakeman" album to go with the already planned tour featuring Rick and his youngest son. I can only assume that the two compositions credited to Adam - Megalomania and Past And Present - where pasted onto to the album during its final stages.

This album is completely instrumental and it features only the dual keyboards of Rick and Adam and programmed drums by Stuart Sawney. There is however a live album from the following tour which featured also bass and drums by Alan Thompson and Tony Fernandez respectively. Personally, I much prefer the live album where the music really comes alive. This is evident when comparing the studio version of the best track here by far, the opening track Lure Of The Wild, with its live counterpart on the Wakeman With Wakeman Live album (aka The Official Bootleg). While the studio version is very good, the live version of the same is amazing! Also Past And Present and the Rolling Stones cover Paint It Black were performed live and included on the live album.

The rest of the tunes here are a mixed bag, covering a variety of styles. While it is better than many other albums in Rick's vast discography and definitely an enjoyable and pleasant listen in it own right, it never really takes off. I can recommend this album to fans and collectors, but my advice is to start with the aforementioned live album which offers a better introduction to the Wakeman With Wakeman project and hold the ultimate version of the great Lure Of The Wild.