INNER VOICE

New keyboardist, new lead singer for Ruphus on their fourth album but the music is quite similar to the fusion sound of their third record 'Let Your Love Shine'. Sylvi Lillegård replaced Gudny Aspaas on vocals and while she actually sings as opposed to what wasd more like scat by Aspaas on the prior record, Lillegård has a decent voice but seems to have rather limited range and at times strains on higher octaves.

Like I said the sound here is quite similar to 'Let Your Love Shine', and in fact on the opening title track I had to check to make sure I was listening to the right CD. The songs on this one are all mature and developed as opposed to the prior record which included a couple of brief transitional snippets of instrumental music as interludes between longer tracks. The more rhythmic and poppish sounds of the latter seventies start to emerge here with songs like "No Deal" and "Left Behind", as they would with just about every other progressive rock band by the time the decade winded to a close.

But the light jazzy vibe is present throughout, particularly on the final two tracks which feature lengthy piano/guitar passages as well as stilted electronic keyboards. Fans of the bands have written rather glowing reviews praising Ms. Lillegård's vocals and the band's mature sound, but I honestly can't really get into this record at all. Musically the production is solid, competent and professional but there is little spark or innovation to draw in anyone other than hardcore fans of the band. And that is the definition of a two-star album, which is what I'm going to say this record is. Recommended to fans only and I should note now available on CD since Pan Records reissued it a few years ago.

peace