AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY

"As Your Mind Flies By" is the second full-length studio album by UK rock/progressive rock band Rare Bird. The album was released through Charisma Records in 1970. It´s the successor to the eponymously titled debut album from 1969.

Stylistically the material is a continuation of the organ/electric piano dominated rock/progressive rock style of the debut album, but Rare Bird have honed their craft since the first album. The songwriting is even more diverse and the performances and sound production of the album are also stronger and more professional. The 19:39 minutes long "Flight" suite is the longest and most progressive oriented song on the album (even featuring a section where the band play the theme from Ravel´s "Bolero"), but Rare Bird are mostly still oriented towards 60s rock/psychedelic rock. Opening track "What You Want to Know" for example reminds me a lot of Procol Harum. When the band rock out the most they remind me of contemporary organ driven artists like aquila and Paladin.

Upon conclusion "As Your Mind Flies By" is a good quality sophomore studio album from Rare Bird, and although they weren´t the most unique act and not the first group to include classical music influences either, there was quality to all parts of the album production and performances. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.