Genre: progressive
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title:  Waters of Change
Company: Vertigo
Catalog: 6360 054
Year: 1972
Country/State: Glasgow, Scotland
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve
Available: 1 
Catalog ID:  267
Price: $40.00

Best time to play: Rainy Sunday mornings; preferably when you don't have a hangover
While I liked the debut Beggars Opera LP, I found "Act One" a bit heavy on the classical influences and the pretense factor. Against that backdrop, 1972's "Waters of Change" reflected a nice change of pace. Yeah, there were still dollops of classical influences scattered throughout the album ('Silver Peacock Intro'), but this time around the project came off as more of group effort with Park's excesses reigned in and the band staking out a far more original and commercial approach. Tracks like 'Time Machine' and 'Silver Peacock' were certainly progressive in sound and approach, but the band members (including synthesizer player Karen Scott who'd been made a full member after participating on the debut), all seemed to have an appreciation for openness and commercial potential. Speaking of pretense, this is going to sound dweeby, but integrating Scott in the band gave them a much fuller sound with the combination of her mellotron and keyboardist Alan Park generating some beautiful fills throughout the album. The collection also introduced new bass player Gordon Sellar who took over from Marshall Erskine.

full album sleeve

- So what to say about the opener 'Time Machine'? It took a moment to shake its way out of the opening aural clutter, but once it emerged, I loved the intricate mellotron powered renaissance melody which sounded like Jethro Tull having just finished a masters thesis in classical music. Throw in some first rate lead guitar from Ricky Gardiner; a touch of Procol Harum-styled organ from Alan Park and this had the makings of a fantastic rock-meets-progressive number. And it was good, but would have been even better were if not for Martin Griffiths' leering vocals. There was just something in his clipped delivery that irritated me beyond words In spite of that criticism, the eight minutes when by quickly and it was easily one of the album highlights. rating: ***** stars
- Opening with some Park church organ and Raymond Wilson's martial snare drum, 'Lament' could not have been a better titled composition. Dark and forlorn, it was the perfect soundtrack for someone's funeral ... Great tune. rating: **** stars
- You wouldn't think a Scottish progressive band could get funky ... okay I'm using the term loosely. Still, when it got going 'I've No Idea' connected a couple of killer hooks and generated quite a bit of energy. Thee interplay between Park's keyboards and Gardiner's guitar was particularly good, with the latter turning in the album's best guitar solos. Even Griffith's sleazy voice (used car anyone ?), sounded okay on this one rating: **** stars
- A dark and slightly ominous instrumental, 'Nimbus' was actually quite pretty and would have made a nice piece of incidental film music. For me it captures the same stark and lonely feeling as Mark Knopfler's "Local Hero" soundtrack. rating: *** stars
- With former bass player Marshall Erskine's sharing the writing credit and responsible for the flute solo and bass, I'm guessing 'Festival' was a leftover from the debut LP. Opening up with a nice keyboard and bass pattern (very ELP-ish), the song' was a bouncy track with a strange, almost medieval feel. Easy to picture jesters bouncing around a town square performing this one (assuming they had electric instruments). The song also showcased the band's seldom heard talent for harmony vocals. Quirky, but quite nice ... rating: *** stars
- After a brief narrative introduction, as the title indicated, 'Silver Peacock Intro' displayed Park's dazzlingly fast classically inspired keyboards. Nothing spectacular which made you wonder what the main track was going to sound like. rating: ** stars
- Luckily, in spite of some way out there lyrics, 'Silver Peacock' was one of the band's prettier, more atmospheric songs with a great melody, plenty of Scott's understated mellotron and some nice acoustic guitar from Gardiner. rating: **** stars
- 'Impromptu' was a brief instrumental section showcasing cello and acoustic guitar. Pretty, but inconsequential. rating: *** stars
- 'The Fox' offered up a strange, but fascinating mash-up of English folk, jazz-rock and progressive moves. Apparently the tale of a fox hunt (told from both the perspective of the fox and the hunters), it was actually far better than you would have expected with each member of the band given a chance to stretch out - bassist Sellar and Park were particularly good. Yeah, I felt bad for the fox. rating: **** stars

Another one of those albums that grows on you and the overall album is far better than the individual songs.

"Waters of Change" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Time Machine (Alan Park - Ricky Gardiner - Martin Griffiths) - 8:06
2.) Lament (instrumental) (Alan Park - Raymond Wilson) - 2:24
3.) I've No Idea (Alan Park - Martin Griffiths) - 7:42
4.) Nimbus (instrumental) (Ricky Gardiner - Martin Griffiths - Gordon Sellar) - 3:43
(side 2)
1.) Festival (Marshall Erskine - Alan Park - Martin Griffiths) - 6:00
2.) Silver Peacock Intro (instrumental) (Karen Scott - Alan Park - Martin Griffiths) - 1:15
3.) Silver Peacock (Karen Scott - Alan Park - Martin Griffiths) - 6:33
4.) Impromptu (instrumental) (Karen Scott - Ricky Gardiner) - 1:08
5.) The Fox (Karen Scott - Ricky Gardiner - Martin Griffiths) - 6:52