Primal Dream is the third solo release by former Bongos front man
Richard Barone. The album blends world-beat percussion with fairly standard late '80s college rock. The blend works best on the eerie "River to River," with its surging guitars and shimmering keyboards. The song was a minor hit and it's the best of the lot here. The production by
Don Dixon sounds a bit dated and the lyrics are rather unadventurous. His vocals, which resemble a more somber
Cy Curnin of
the Fixx, are robotic on several cuts. He even takes a clumsy stab at Euro-funk on "Something Happens." There is a decent cover of
the Velvet Underground's "I'll Be Your Mirror" featuring studio veteran Jane Scapantoni on cello, and the B-52's
Fred Schneider duets on the jaunty pop of "Mr. Used to Be." Overall, though, there just isn't much -- aside from good intentions -- to sustain interest here. ~ Tom Demalon