TIME AND A WORD

Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe do not participate on the making of this record: it is rather Peter Banks and Tony Kaye. Tony Kaye uses a VERY dirty (distorted) electric organ. There is an omnipresent symphonic strings orchestra and some horns arrangements. I think Banks' electric guitars are a bit timid, rather rythmic and not enough melodic. Squire's bass has its low frequencies VERY boosted. Bruford's drums are fast and rather complex. There are many mellow & relaxing bits, and the music is not extremely complex and progressive: it is quite catchy and accessible. Anderson's voice is excellent, as always. Most of the tracks are excellent. I would say this record flirts with the hard rock boundary: the keyboards really have a hard rock tendency. The album has similitudes with the first Yes album.

My rating: 4.5/5