CROSS-COLLATERAL

For the first time in 5 albums, Doldinger didn't change the entire line-up but continued with the exact same gang of the previous album. And how it pays off. The previous album established a new sound for Passport but lacked inspiration and heart. This time around the band sounds tight and inspired and complements Doldinger's musical ideas with varied soloing and solid interplay.

I've mentioned Ozric Tentacles in about every Passport review I've done so far and also here I need to use them a a main reference. A track like Jadoo was almost literally like copied by the Ozrics. With the lush keyboards and brighter production, Passport sound very fresh and timeless here and will also please fans of Gong albums like You. Doldinger still comes up with plenty of catchy leads but now he has reached a complexity in structure and arrangement that he never achieved before.

One of the main attractions on the album is the attention given to the bass guitar, it's not only very prominent in the mix but it also provides a solid and sweeping backbone for the other musicians. And actually nobody lets down on this album, not in the playing, not in the arrangements and not even once in the songwriting, making this the first (and last) Passport album that is consistently good.

I would suggest this album to newcomers to Passport. The first three albums are pleasant as well but this is the one where they excel themselves on all counts.