Before I started writing the review I thought I’d get the CD down from the shelf, so started looking through my collection of Jeremy CD’s and it took a while to find it. A short count later and I realised that I have thirty of his albums on CD, plus another four from the days when he was releasing albums on cassette, and I don’t actually have everything he’s done by a long way! The album starts as if it is one of his power pop albums, with a more evangelical nature, but the lengthy “Clouds Are Lifting” soon turns into something quite different, as mandolins are riffed and dramtically change the feel of the whole piece and then we are into delicate piano and the realisation that this is an album that is looking back to his classic “Pilgrim’s Journey” in many ways, as it is refusing to conform into any particuar style.
There are a few guest musicians helping out here and there, but for the most part this is Jeremy doing everything himself. The rhythm section of Dave Dietrich and Todd Borsch may only be involved on a couple of numbers, but they have dramatic input into “I Am The Eye” which is driving rock number, again with many influences and stylistic switches and changes. There are strong hints of The Beatles in particular, moved and pulled in many different directions and styles.
There is a refusal to conform, so that the listener never really know what to expect or what is coming next, although this is never harsh or grating. The jangly Byrds-style guitar at the beginning of the title song leads into a pop melody that in turn is twisted into something that could have come out of Sgt. Pepper. Jeremy has really puished himself with this album, and it feels his most complete work for some time. This will appeal to those who enjoy both his progressive rock and power pop works as here is stretches both and delivers them in a manner that is always enjoyable and entertaining. This is refreshing and uplifiting album which is well worth hearing.
