This album, which is a complete mystery to most American fans of the group (never having gotten much distribution outside of Europe), marked the end of
Amazing Blondel as a recording unit, and not a moment too soon. It is one of the most wrong-headed retoolings of sound ever heard. The one-time Renaissance- and folk-based ensemble -- comprised of Terry Wincott and
Eddie Baird -- have reshaped their sound alternately as soft harmony pop á la
England Dan & John Ford Coley, on half the tracks, and as a funky faux-soul outfit, like some sub-
Bee Gees. Wincott and
Baird were probably sincere at the time, as they seem to take to the vocal stylings naturally enough, but they just weren't terribly inspired -- at least in any way that would make someone actually pay money for this record. The better songs, which include "Give Me a Chance," "Until I See You Again," "Wait for the Day," and "The Man That I Am," are OK, but with the possible exception of the last, they mostly only call to mind better acts of the period. Needless to say, this was a record that didn't please many fans of the group's earlier folk-based sound, or win over new converts, and probably hastened their end. And the cover art, consisting of what looks like a duck's foot, remains a mystery to this day, and the most intriguing part of the album. ~ Bruce Eder