FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT

Starting more rocking then any of their past classics, "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night" (a classic title if there ever was one), 'Memory Lain, Hugh/ Headloss' is a super beginning with more upfront guitar by Pye Hastings with viola and flute puncturating the track wonderfully. I love how halfway through the song sounds like its reaching a climax when it delves into part 2, 'Headloss' which sounds very American with Richardson's viola taking center stage ala Kansas. Pye sings great throughout the album, but I do miss Richard Sinclair's bassy but sophisticated voice. Hoedown" continues the Americanized prog, one just needs to notice the title of the song. "Surprise, Surprise" has Hasting's typical fragile and sweet singing with nice bass by newcomer Perry. By now you may notice that David Sinclair's signature keyboard work is somewhat underutilized which, for me, marks this album as a lesser of the main five by the band. Things are rectified by the following killer of a track, "C'thlu Thlu" a downright chilling and spooky number, very appropo for the coming Halloween season ;-). Sinclair's keyboard work is fantastic on this weird but excellent song, just check it out about 4 minutes in until the end, CLASSIC! Now for those who miss their whimsical side, "The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again" will satisfy you to no end. Funny lyrics and an infectious melody it would fit in nicely on any of their previous albums. "Be Alright/ Chance of a Lifetime" is a rousing number with Richardson's viola leading the charge again sounding very much like Kansas with orchestra taking up much of the background and fiery guitar by Hastings; a track that doesn't get the accolades by Caravan fans. I think it's one of their best rockers ever. Finally we reach the mini-epic track 7, (too many sub-titles for me to type, sorry). If you like orchestral prog you'll be in ectasy with this number, hypnotic and thundering it's another classic. With the bonus tracks the standout is the last track, "Derek's Long Thing" instrumental and awesome sounding like something from their earlier days, I only wish it would have ended up somewhere because it's that good. As their first album was psych/prog, the second more prog than psych, the third a whimsical/prog and their fourth a jazzier/prog, this album leans more towards the symph side of prog yet still has their Canterbury prog roots. I say it fits in well with their whole canon of early albums, not as good as "The Land of..." or "If I Can Do..." but is a marked improvement over the last album, "Waterloo Lily". I give it a 4.5 leaning towards 5 easily.