ORIGINAL TAPES

This is a budget price CD containing 2 albums: "Starlight Dancer" and "Phantom of The Night" with a sort of compromise deal: one song for each album has been omitted to fit the CD limited capacity. Well, actually they can fit into one CD if all tracks are featured because there is at least 7 minutes left.

"Daughter or Son" is a very attractive pop rock music. This is the kind of music that you expect would cheer you up early in the morning before going to work. Performed in an upbeat tempo, this song has a nice melody and excellent composition. The combination of guitar, piano and vocal is really excellent.

"Starlight Dancer" is my all-time favorite that features a melodic intro with vocal and piano touch. The music then flows into its body where its rhythm has a powerful orchestration. It's a very memorable song and fits my personal taste.

"Want You to be Mine" was the band's American hit sometime in mid 70s. It's completely a poppy song that does not attract me a lot.

"Irene" is an instrumental track heavily influenced by classical music. Piano and keyboard dominate the melody augmented wit electric guitar. Excellent instrumental song.

"Golddust" is a happy mood song with solo drum during intro followed with piano work. I like the melody produced with the the voice line. Guitar fills in transition piece. The ending part of this track is excellent - it explores the band's symphonic style.

"May" is a piano based song performed in a mellow style with powerful and clean voice. It's classically influenced track - especially through piano touch. The keyboard solo during interlude is stunning. Again, it sounds to me like a symphonic prog tune. I think, this part has later influenced the bands under neo progressive vein. Look at the keyboard solo - it's something we used to hear in neo prog bands.

"Turn The Tide" is a medium tempo, happy mood track with excellent singing melody. But the rhythm sounds like any pop song.

"Where do we Go from Here?" is another favorite of mine. Well, I like the musical nuances of this song. At the beginning it starts off with nice piano and keyboard works that set a nice tone for the overall music of this song. It's a wonderfully crafted tune that is accessible to most listeners.

"Winning Ways" remarks the opening of "Phantom of the Night" album in this CD. It's a nice pop rock song with nice singing style.

"Keep the Change" is for me a funny and nice song. Yeah it's funny because the opening (keyboard) projects a funny image but when the voice line it's a nice pop tune.

"Ruthless Queen" is the most popular Kayak track. It's very easy to tell friend about the band by mentioning this tune. They will know because it's very popular track that exist in many forms of slow rock compilation discs.

"Crime of Passion" is another pop rock tune with kayak unique style. Enjoyable track with good singing style.

"Daphne" is my favorite track. The melody of opening vocal (accoumpanied with piano) is really KILLING! I love this tune since first spin. The overall melody is really memorable! The music turns into crescendos with orchestration and faster tempo. "The Poet and the one Man Band" is another pop rock music in the vein of "Keep the Change" or "Crime of Passion". Piano dominates the rhythm section.

"No Man's Land" brings the music into faster tempo with electric guitar and piano accompanying the voice line.

"Journey Through Time" is another tune in the vein of "Golddust". It's an interesting track performed in medium tempo.

"Phantom of the Night" is another favorite of mine. It has a catchy melody performed in a mellow style - heavily influenced by classical music. The music flows very nicely from opening to the end accentuated by light orchestra. This is one of Kayak tunes that I used to emulate. It's beautifully composed and accessible to music buffs.

Having two great albums in one CD? What a great offer. Go and get it! You won't regret at all! Keep on Progging!

Progressively Yours,

GW - Indonesia.