Emerging from a two-decade exile from recording,
Peter Banks released this album of rock instrumentals. It's clearly a personal production for him; the liner notes give the biographical context of each song, which lends them a resonance that they might otherwise lack. The songs themselves, though not always especially compelling given the apparent lack of live drums, show
Banks' chops still in fine form. Often they're shot through with odd little voice and broadcast samples. The pointedly titled "Shortcomings," for example, combines Oliver North testifying that Iran-Contra was "a neat idea" with a caller to a
Yes radio interview asking why
Banks hadn't been invited to a reunion concert. (Ouch.) The series of over-the-top hammer-ons that run through the song musically beg that question: "Surely I'm as good as
Trevor Rabin?" Ah well. At least
Banks has kept his sense of humor, for as his liner notes muse, "If you enjoy listening to it half as much as the enjoyment I had recording it, then I have had twice as much fun as you!" [The 1999 Transatlantic reissue includes an extra track, "Anima Mundi."] ~ Paul Collins