Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Moonmadness
Company: Janus
Catalog: JXS-7024
Year: 1976
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear; gatefold sleeve
Available: 2
Price: $10.00
Co-produced by Rhett Davis and the band, "Moonmadness"
found the group continuing to refine their blend of accessible melodies and
extended instrumentation. With Bardens and Latimore penning the majority of
material, selections such as the atypical rocker "Another Night",
the sweet "Song within a Song" (recalling Pink Floyd at their most
melodic) and "Air Born" weren't half bad. The absence of a strong
lead singer remained a problem, but Barden's tasteful synthesizers
("Spirit of the Water" underscored the fact he was one of the few
proponents who understood the meaning of subtlety), while Latimore's clean
jazz-rock fusion guitar runs ("Chord Change") salvaged virtually
all of the material. Their biggest American success, the album reached #118.
(The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.) Shortly after
the collection was release the band underwent the first in a series of
personnel changes; original bassist Ferguson being replaced by Caravan
co-founder Richard Sinclair (see separate entry).
"Moonmadness" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Aristillus (instrumental) (Andy Latimer) -
2.) Song within a Song (Andy Latimer - Peter Bardens) -
3.) Chord Change (instrumental) (Andy Latimer - Peter Bardens) -
4.) Spirit of the Water (Peter Bardens) -
(side 2)
5.) Another Night (Andy Latimer - Peter Bardens - Ward - Doug Ferguson) -
6.) Air Born (Andy Latimer - Peter Bardens) -
7.) Lunar Sea (Andy Latimer - Peter Bardens) -