SEVEN TEARS

Even though this is the band's seventh album from its debut release, I only knew this album as the second because i would say that Golden Earring solid album started with its self-titled album (a.k.a The Wall of Dolls) released in 1970. This release is as solid as the previous one. The music composition is quite strong in terms of melody, harmonies, and structural integrity. You can not see much progressive elements here but there are segments that remind you as a progressive music like those in 'Hope' and 'She Flies on a Strange Wing'. As an album released in early seventies, the vintage sound seems very obvious and all music was composed with song orientated approach. And the characteristics of seventies music is the riff-based song using simple notes resulted from guitar.

An Excellent classic rock music

'Silver Ships' f lows mellow with bluesy style. Do you know Paul Rodger's Bad Company? If so, the music of this opening track flows in the vein of Bad Company's kind of music. It's a very nice opening track with ambient vocal line strengthened by flute work and nice acoustic guitar. This song is truly a representation of the seventies music. The combination of flute and guitar fills is a nice shot from this track.

'The Road Swallowed Her Name' is a riff-based song, combining guitar and bass works, with a dynamic style. Yeah, the riffs characterize the music especially as the vocal line brings the music into the seventies nuance. The drumming style reminds me to Grand Funk Railroad's 'We are an American Band'. The lead guitar plays important role in determining the overall tone of the song, combined with singing style.

'Hope' is probably what prog heads may consider as a song with progressive elements. It's not that the saxophone that is used throughout the song but also the structure that sounds like a symphonic prog music. You may associate the saxophone work with those kind of work done by Van Der Graaf Generator. Of course this song is not that dark as VdGG. But it also gives a flavor of King Crimson. I personally like this song for two reasons: it has nice melody and the music flows in dark ambience supported by excellent vocal line.

'Don't Worry' is an energetic music which relies its composition on groove, using piano as music filler, while bass guitar plays a very dynamic and tight basslines. Yes, bass guitar is the key to this track and it does not serve as typical rhythm section as the notes used are dynamics.

The intro part of 'She Flies on Strange Wings' again reminds me to the bluesy style of Bad Company music. Once the vocal line ends, guitar riffs enter with a full blast of music. The music flows beautifully in solid rhythm section where guitar and bass demonstrate their contribution quite dominantly. The song also has style changes especially at approx 4:15 into mellow and bluesy style with ambient vocal line. The vocal work is handled excellently by Barry Hay.

'This is The Other Side of Life' starts nicely with bass guitar lines and it flows in simple with straight line structure. It continues with grooves created by piano and dynamic basslines. The singing style reminds me to Alex Harvey's style.

'You're Better of Free' starts beautifully with a bluesy guitar work followed with guitar fills and energetic vocal line with catchy melody. The song is full with vocal accentuation backed with nice guitar fills. Even though it has a simple straight forward structure, the interlude part is truly stunning especially with its great guitar solo and unique rhythm section. I personally enjoy this guitar work. In fact, this song is great for live performance, I believe. The song really suits its position as a concluding track. It's inspiring, really.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to your classic rock collection with some flavors of progressive elements in some segments of the song. The key characteristics of this album are: excellent melody, balanced harmonies of vocal as well as instruments and the album has solid structural integrity in terms of song structure as well as the whole album in its entirety. Keep on proggin' ..! Because proggin' is really healthy.

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW