MASQUE - SONGS AND PLANETS

Maybe I'm crazy but I like this one; keep in mind that I can be sucker for 80's music so take the 3 star rating as very generous. The link between "Masque" and the album "Solar Fire" isnt't made up and it does exist; it is serious reworking of some older material that was conceived at that time but shelved for later. "Masque" is a lot of stuff, jazzy, pop, r'n'b, but even some light space rock repackaged for the more commercial market, instrumental like "Hymn" for example. As MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND goes, I can see how this one can be a major disappointment and very different style but I think that if it were some other maybe crossover artist it would be rated higher. I really don't have that need to trash this album even though it's not rock like we were used to, it's still a very decent pop rock album. Which reminds me, some point of comparison to actual music can be instrumentals that PHIL COLLINS made on his early solo albums, and there is plenty of world music elements (percussion mostly). Also, "Joybringer " is a very nice rendition of one of their earlier songs, if only a little too short. Not really for the fans who like only the classic period but decent pop rock for anyone who is looking for it.