GARDEN OF EDEN

Garden of Eden is slightly better then the preceding Passport album. Just slightly, very slightly. The focus is still on easy-listening jazz, new-age and mainstream jazz-pop. I'm not an expert in those genres but I'd say the album would even score rather low compared to others.

With Big Bang the band combines their pop tendencies with a bit of soft-rocking excitement. Hardly compelling but the fretless bass adds an interesting viewpoint. After two short and forgettable new-age ditties, Light II has a go at the smoother side of Santana's Latin pop-fusion. There are even some vocals! But what a dull and sterile track, certainly when comparing to the real thing from mr Carlos. More new-age follows on Snake, more funk-pop on Gates of Paradise and Children's Dance, meek soul-pop on Dreamware and cheesy ballad-pop on Good Earth Smile.

This album was my last hope of finding any further interesting music from Passport, so I've never even thought of trying anything from their 80s output. The album is close to a total disaster and no match for the more inspired music of their early career. Unless you like your jazz mellow, pop and unobtrusively new-age, I'd suggest trying your luck with the debut or Cross-Colatoral.