FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

After a rather luminous debut (don't forget that was issued in '68), their follow-up album was released quite in a hurry. But to be honest, this was business as usual in those remote days. Bands were so inventive that there were virtually no problems to come up with an album once (or even twice) a year. Lots of famous known (and not so famous as well) bands have done so in the sixties.

Now, to come back on this "Family" album, I have to say that the peak of their creativity was definitely achieved on their good debut. This "Family Entertainment" sounds real shy in comparison. Chapman even leaving the leading vocals role at times. So, what's left?

The wonderful and inventive arrangements of the debut are past history. Once in a while, the great singing capabilities of Roger are noticeable ("How-Hi-The-Li"). But these breaks are not really plenty on this album.

I know that it was very much in the style of these times, but a track as "Second Generation Woman" can't be of any interest to me: these Oriental moods are just average. "Family" plays in some sort of a second (at least) division band here. Press next to avoid these useless sounds. It is not because most prominent bands decided to investigated Eastern moods that everyone would succeed in this creative research.

At the end of the day, I far much prefer them while they play their psychedelic rock from their debut. In this sense "From Past Archives" is way better than most of the songs that can be discovered on this album. I would even call it a highlight if the average quality of this work would have been better.

I really can't be very enthusiast about this one. No songs are outstanding nor even shining to tell the truth. When I listen to the poor "Processions", I just have one feeling: to press a certain key form my keyboard. Yes, the "next" one. Even if this song holds diverse moods, its very much country style driven theme is totally alien to my ears.

The average experience goes on with another country one. When "Face In The Cloud" starts, I have only one ambition: let's have it stopped as soon as possible. I just can't stand this awful country style atmosphere.

I can hardly consider this album as a good one. It is so inferior when compared to their good "Music In A Doll's House". It seemed that this album was released to please the American audiences. This objective will never be achieved though.

I can't rate this album with more than two stars.