RUNNING BLIND

The great keyboard guru left us almost orphan during his solo career. Here and there some fine tunes, but overall little to do with his so great song writing while sharing the bill with the great Heep.

Only some reminiscence of these great days can be felt here throughout the excellent "Prelude A Minor Life". But it is a bit "short" to make it a good album. What's next are just a bunch of decent AOR tunes, but aren't we expecting more from the great man? The answer is "yes" of course: even if "Out of My Control" is far from being poor. Fine melody and great guitar for sure.

The counter balance with "You've Got it" is rather hard to bear though. Even if the heavy organs are reminding me of the good old days. This album is not that bad actually: a song as "The Final Solution" has a catchy chorus and displays some fine guitar work. But aren't we expecting more than this from Ken? I guess that the answer is "yes".

Most of the album is of the same vein: some heavy and popish AOR. Not great nor poor for sure. Just average like the Springsteen oriented "It's Up to You". Of course, while you listen to such a song as "Finney's Tale", there is only one option: press next to avoid this useless popish demonstration.

The bottom low is being reached with the mellowish " I Close My Eyes". Was this a mistake? I would have thought so but why then having released " A Little Piece of Me"???

Some pieces of music are saving this work, like the very good and rocking " Free Spirit". More of these were expected I guess! The beat is ingenious, the melody is fine. Only some great solo are forgotten, but as a whole this is one of my faves featured on this "Running Blind".

Two stars for this record: none of these songs are to be remembered but the whole can't be dismissed either.

Weren't we expecting more than this from Ken? I guess that the answer is "yes".