UK band Legend has not been heard from for 15 years but with a new lead singer they have taken a fresh stab at living up to the name of the band. This epic concept disc while easily compared to Anne Haslam and Renaissance, also bring to the progressive music scene a very old style of rock and roll that will have you thinking of the days of Haight/Ashbury and the hippie music that originated there. It has a folksy quality that combines with the spiritual subject matter will make sure that the listening experience is way far out and groovy.
Earth, Air, Fire, Water are the Cardinal Points that this band point to on the 4 songs that make up this disc. With each clocking in at over 13 minutes and up to 17, they give you ample opportunity to explore each element in the fullest. With a charming mysticism that makes me think of the Indians of our South Western region, Legend has created a very fun disc that has some very bold musical statements but also tends to kind of drag on and on in places.
Yes the songs do seem to go on forever and even though they have some dynamic instrumental passages ( I really like the bass guitar solo in "Whisper On The Wind") the songs would have been much better served in smaller doses.
There is also a repetitiveness I think is due to the length of the compositions. I lost count how many times you hear the title sung in the song "Spark To A Flame". They might be trying to deliver some kind of mantra here but I really lost interest even though there is a very cool synthesizer solo in the middle of this one.
The musicianship on this album is outstanding without a doubt. The vocals are very earthy and fit the subject matter perfect. The main problem, if you can call it that, is that this disc is just a little too laid back. It never seems to get beyond the simmering point as you wait for it to boil. This is not to say that it is a bad disc in any way. It just tends to become background music and nothing more. I have enjoyed it many, many times but as soon as I pull it out of the player it is easily forgotten. Still it has some very good moments but not enough to keep my interest for the duration.
Track listing:
1. Carved In Stone
2. Whisper On The Wind
3. Spark To A Flame
4. Drop In The Ocean
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