RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 3 - YOU

This is definitely a space/psychedlia album which only begins to sound somewhat Canterbury-ish with the middle of the fourth song, "Master Builder" (8/10) Still, the space/psychedelic element, IMHO, far eclipse the Canterburyness of the album. I love the synth and effects uses throughout this album. The vocals are fair; the hippie lyrics make me smile.

"A Sprinkling of Clouds" (9/10) is where the album really starts to stand up and shine. Part TANGERINE DREAM, part Indian raga, part CSN&Y/JESSE COULTER YOUNG, until it morphs into a driving groove by the 4:30 mark and then into a more Canturbury sound with the electric guitar and sax soli soon thereafter.

"Perfect Mystery" is only notable for its percussion.

The next long song, "The Isle of Everywhere" (9/10) is another pleasant space groove with GILLI SMYTH's ethereal vocals floating all around us, giving way to some very nice, subdued sax work around the 3:30 mark. Steve Hillage solos next?playing out to the song's fade out (the master fade makes it sound like the jam went on for quite some time longer).

You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever (6/10) starts like the precursor to NEWCLEUS's Ewok voices in Jam On It before it shifts to a very laid back jazz piece. Odd vocals and lyrics return. The song is just a little too surreal, silly, and . . . well, pointless for my tastes.

Overall, the guitars, drums, vocals, lyrics, and saxes fail to impress. The synths, percussion, and mix/engineering are the real stars of this album. I could never call this an essential masterpiece of music, but it is a very interesting experience that I am glad to have had. 3.5 stars, really.