BLUE JAYS

The keyboards (and in particular mellotron) which were hallmarks of the Moody Blues sound were absent for this album, recorded by Hayward and Lodge to fill time during the Moodies' mid-1970s hiatus, and in their place is a string section backing which gives the album a sound reminiscent of classic baroque pop releases of the 1960s. The overall effect is close enough to the duo's Moodies compositions that the album will appeal to listeners of that band - indeed, it's a sufficiently good companion to their Moody Blues work that few fans would want to be without it - but it's definitely its own entity at the same time.

Equally, it's hardly an essential entry in the Moodies story - it boils down to Hayward and Lodge trying to keep the band's soft prog formula bubbling just a little bit longer, and it had already been feeling a little tired out before the band took their hiatus.