[.ca] Spring

A Great Surprize:
I like the review by Allen Bruce Ray and agree with his comments almost in total. I'll add a couple items. The lead vocalist does have an unusual voice. It takes a couple listens and then you actually appreciate. It is almost Van Morrison/jazzy-like. My main objection to the vocalist is his lack of enunciation - words slur together; however he has a unique melodic jazz/deep and rich in harmonics voice that really enhances the music. The overall tenor of this album is like either Chris Squires' "Fish out of Water" or PFMs "Per un Amico" in mood and texture and mix with a prolivication towards bass and keyboard Bach-like enveloping keyboards. If you like this album I think you will like "Per un Amico" and visa versa. If you do not like "Fish" or "Amico" I do not think you will like this album. There is a great mix of music on the album and consistently high quality. Some tracks highlight an accoustic guitar while most highlight the 3 mellotrons. In Prog circles, this album is known as the "mellotron album". Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6 in particular showcase this essential prog instrument ans show its great versatility. I just got this album and on the first day I listened to it once and was neutral about it - primarily, somewhat turned off by the vocalist. The second day listened to it once and had to make sure I put the same album in. On day 3 listend to it about 5 times and have discovered 5 or 6 tracks I really love. It is a shame that this is short-lived Spring's only album, the reissuers added 3 previously recorded tracks (non-Mellotron) to the album. It is a real shame the group did not mature more and issue more music.

• Prisoner (Eight by Ten)
• Grail
• Boats
• Shipwrecked Soldier
• Golden Fleece
• Inside Out
• Song to Absent Friends (The Island)
• Gazing
• Fool's Gold \o#\c\o*\c
• Hendre Mews \o#\c\o*\c
• Word Full of Whispers \o#\c\o*\c