WELCOME TO EDO'S LAND

CAMEL meets folk rock somewhere in the middle of the 1970s, not a bad idea even in the mid 1990s. NOSTALGIA by this time had been progressing from a professional perspective, but the price is a certain loss of innocence, which was a quality that paradoxically elevated every aspect of "Is Your Spirit Free". This means that I have to judge "Welcome to Edo's Land" against other progressive rock of its time, and, while it's by no means a failure, I'm a little disappointed.

While the overall dreamy atmosphere and somewhat tinny quality remain, the melodies are less impressive as the duo goes singer songwriter, settling for ponderously strummed guitars and minimally persuasive bass patterns a little too often, as in "The Good Guys" and "Welcome" respectively. If one focuses on the lyrics and arrangements, the first are hard to hear and the second rather simplistic on "Never Alone", one of the longer cuts here.

The major highlights are the dynamically superb "I'm a Dreamer", with many phases and phrasings, and the delicate acoustic and vocally staggering delight "Double", while "Remains of the Night" shows off a more overtly keyboard dominated prog side for one of the few times, reminding me of some of ANYONE'S DAUGHTERS slightly fusion-y work in the early 1980s. The only Italian sung piece "Mare D'Inverno", and "Beyond the Fog" stake out a comfort zone without being pat.

After the free spirit soared in the previous album, this seems mundane by comparison, but still grounded enough to warrant 3 stars and a wistful sense that the band, like Edo, may have reached its ultimate landing.