Sur La Mer - Moody Blues (The)

...of the latter period Moody’s. If you didn’t listen to it first time around, try it now. I give it my unreserved recommendation.

SUR LA MER - The Moody Blues (1988) POLYDOR 835756-2 £8.99


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In the spring of 1988 the Moody Blues issued their twelfth studio album and their fifth since their reunion of the mid 70s. The cover notes record that it was twenty one years since ‘Days of Future Passed’ and that at that date the band had sold over 50 million records world wide. The line up is again Justin Hayward (vocalist and lead guitar), John Lodge (vocalist and bass), Ray Thomas (flute), Graeme Edge (percussion) and Patrick Moraz (keyboards).

Moraz toured with the Moodys around this time and featured on several of the later studio albums. He was also a member of the group ‘Yes’ in his time after Rick Wakeman left.

The cover (a pale blue impressionist painting ‘Le fort d’Antibes’ by Nicolas de Stael) is understated in comparison with those of the earlier psychedelic works of art and does not prepare you for the musical tour de force that lies within. This album (51 minutes in length) presents the Moody Blues at their best. It is a well balanced disc with a full range of songs that explore the joyful, wistful, hopeful, despairing, poignant, melancholic and loving sides of the human condition. There are upbeat rockers and slow ballads with the distinctive clear vocals and wall of sound that characterises the Moodys.

Interestingly there is no track from Ray Thomas in this outing.

This disc edges out its successor (‘Keys Of The Kingdom’) as my favourite from the second series of Moody Blues albums. The play list and my personal rating (out of five) follows:

1. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere *****

What an opening track! This is Justin Hayward as singer / songwriter at his best. There are great lyrics describing the hope and longing of misplaced love combined with marvellous melodies and harmonies.

This track is accompanied by a superb video which is featured on the ‘Legends of a Band’ DVD and laserdisc. It is also presented as the sequel to ‘In Your Wildest Dreams’

2. Want To Be With You *****

This is a Justin Hayward / John Lodge collaboration. It is a slower track with romantic verses. The choruses are back with synthesisers and soaring harmonies that play voices against guitars.

3. River Of Endless Love *****

A hectic synthesiser rap slows down to be replaced by the driving beat of an upbeat ballad. This is another ‘JJ’ song with voices in the verses in slightly echoed unison and the choruses in descant. The arrangement is a typical relentless Moody’s ‘wall of sound’. There is an incessant riff from Patrick Moraz on the keyboard joined late on by a saxophone.

4. No More Lies. *****

Justin Hayward at his quintessential best (again!). There are chiming guitar chords offset by synthesisers which accompany the brilliant romantic words of hope and promise of future love …
(“So that’s the final story, the truth in all its glory, see how much I care. You know you drive me crazy, thrill me and amaze me, drive me to despair.”)

There is a long final instrumental section – music to drown to in a sea of romanticism!

There is a superb video of this song on ‘The Legends’ disc.

5. Here Comes The Weekend *****

John Lodge sings a fast tempo rocker. There is good drum work from Graeme Edge and a driving beat. There is also a great saxophone solo in the middle section (reminiscent of the solo performances on Foreigner’s “4” album)

This is my fourteen year old daughter’s favourite Moody’s track (I wonder why!)

6. Vintage Wine. *****

A folksy ballad from Justin that is pure nostalgia. Like so many long time fans, I was there too …
(“I remember the taste of the vintage wine from ’63 through to ’69 and I’m proud of the things we believed in then, if I had the chance I’d go round again”)

This song is perhaps the story of the group’s ideals in one song. It is used as the final play out track on the ‘Legends’ video.

7. Breaking Point. *****

This song has a most sinister yet moving sound. Even now I feel those “hands of ice down your spine” whenever I listen to it. It is has a slow introduction with ghostly string sounds. John and Justin take turns with the verses. There is a slow drum beat which leads to the more upbeat middle section. The musical arrangement is intense with prominent cellos and synthesiser trills.

Very effective!!

8. Miracle ***

This is a somewhat more pedestrian song. The voices sing in unison and there is a brass accompaniment and a driving beat.

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with this song, but, hey!, I’ve awarded seven straight *****s to this point. Maybe I’m just getting too critical.

9. Love Is On The Run ****

This is a John Lodge ballad. I’ve commented before that for my taste he is better on the fast paced rock songs. However this is a reasonable effort and has a great backing track.

10. Deep. *****

A melodic Justin Hayward composition and a good closing track to the album. There are complex string and guitar harmonies in the arrangement. There is also a typical Justin guitar solo towards the end.

Maybe I should have saved the best ‘til last. I never get tired of listening to it and it is usually in the CD changer in the car. This is a superb all round album from the group. It is an ideal introduction to the songs and sounds of the latter period Moody’s. If you didn’t listen to it first time around, try it now. I give it my unreserved recommendation.

SUR LA MER - The Moody Blues (1988) POLYDOR 835756-2 £8.99

 

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