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MERLINKayakCrossover Prog3.33 | 115 ratings |
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slipperman
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Prog Reviewer |
A more frustrating Kayak album I have yet to hear. I've always had a hard time with
half-concept albums, where one side is a cohesive whole with a focused lyrical theme,
while the other half can't help but come off as afterthoughts, no matter how good the
material might be. This is what we get on 'Merlin', the first half based on that familiar
Arthurian legend. Musically this half of the album is the best material Kayak had written
since their second album, escaping streamlined radio-friendly material for more
elaborate arrangements and lush symphonic keyboard layers. It's not quite on par with
those first couple records, but it gives much more than I would've expected from Kayak
at this point in their career. Rhythms are light but active, bouncing about with a
pleasing momentum, and the icing on the cake is Edward Reekers' impassioned vocal
performance. I've never really warmed to his smoother-than-smooth delivery, but it
works very well with this kind of fantasy-oriented material, especially on beautiful
ethereal ballad "Niniane (Lady Of The Lake)". Special mentions also go to "Merlin", "The
Sword In The Stone" and "The King's Enchanter", excellent material that reveals Kayak
as one of the premier purveyors of slick symphonic prog/pomp. The rest of the album is
the most sickly-sweet pap I have ever heard from Kayak, and that's saying a lot.
Worse than 'Periscope Life'. Worse than the most pop-leaning bits on 'Phantom Of The
Night'. Worse than most of the lite-pop crud you've ever heard. "Seagull", "Boogie
Heart" (ugh, what a title!) and "Now That We've Come This Far" are generic early '80s
FM radio rock songs that you never actually heard on the radio. "Can't Afford To Lose"
emulates the disco rhythms of their semi-hit "I Want You To Be Mine" so closely that it
has no hope of standing on its own. But it's pretty silly stuff anyhow, you only need to
hear it if you worshipped "I Want You To Be Mine" (all 4 of you out there). Final
track "Love's Aglow" is a keeper, reminding of those dreamlike textures that the Alan
Parsons Project generate so well. 'Wind And Wuthering' fans will know what I mean
when I say it's sort of the "Afterglow" of the album (but without the genius of Genesis
preceding it).
If this were an EP with just the 'Merlin' material presented, I wouldn't hesitate to give it 4 stars. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to enjoy the album in its entirety, as the back half is nauseating, bringing the score and overall appeal down to a lowly 2 stars. Fans only, indeed. But fans of the band's early days will be left wanting after the very good first half.
slipperman |
2/5 |
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