NEW DAWN

3.5 stars. This was GALLIARD's second and final studio album from 1970. A rather large band with up to a dozen musicians including 5 horn players and the horns can dominate at times but I was thankful it wasn't horn rock all the time. Still I really have a hard time with this style of music, just not into hearing multi-horns blasting out of my speakers. I like the way they try to change things up with different sounds and even styles like the over 9 minute "Ask For Nothing" which for me is by far the best track on here. Pretty inventive with that sitar, I haven't quite heard it played like that before. There are vocals on most tracks including here.

Interesting to hear an accordion led track in "And Smile Again" and it almost sounds like a folky jig at one point. How about the rhythm section on "Somethings Going On" but that scratchy guitar style he usually uses I'm not into or the horns. "Premonition" is my second favourite track despite the horns. Again I like the rhythm section and it's catchy. I like the dissonant horn on the opener. Not into the flute style on "Winter-Spring-Summer" or the song period. The closer was a little disappointing but I do like the guitar after 3 1/2 minutes and it has an experimental ending.

One of the better albums I've heard in this style.