PERILOUS JOURNEY

Gordon Giltrap consolidated his transformation from singer songwriter to prog composer with this follow up to his superb "Visionary" album. If "Visionary" represented the introduction of the completely revamped Giltrap, "Perilous journey" sees him turning that transition into commercial success and widespread (and deserved) recognition.

In 1977, that commercial success was still to a large extent dependent on finding a hit single, and Giltrap duly obliged with the fine "Heartsong". The song, or more correctly instrumental, was used in the UK by the BBC Television programme "Holiday" for seven years, keeping it in the public mind over that period, and presumably therefore maintaining sales of this album.

The band which Giltrap had put together for "Visionary" is retained here, with a brass section and strings supplementing the sound. In some ways, the album is like an extended adaptation of Mason Williams' "Classical gas", with acoustic guitar and orchestra vying with each other for centre stage. The opening "Quest" is very much in this vain, the music of the band Sky also coming to mind.

The tracks tend to segue together, giving the set an enjoyable continuity, with softer sections such as "Pastoral" forming a bridge between the more complex arrangements on the upbeat passages.

The one major complain about the album as a whole is its brevity. Even in 1977, 32 minutes was somewhat short for an LP. Judged on the music alone though, this is a fine piece of work.

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