****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
My review is mostly focused on White Faced Lady. It alone is worth the purchase of this 2 CD Set. The prior release, From Home To Home is solid, mostly well crafted Pop/Prog Rock. The band changed from the Psych Pop band, Kaleidoscope, to a new format under the name, Fairfield Parlour. What they created on From Home To Home was honed to perfection on White Faced Lady. Rock Opera's were a short lived phenomenon of this period (thank god), being the early 1970's. Tommy and Jesus Christ Superstar being the best known.White Faced Lady may be the best of the bunch. They went to the trouble of creating a short story (included in the CD) which provides the entire story of the heroine, Angel. The short story is haunting, tragic, vivid and well written. Obviously inspired, and sometimes mirroring the life of Marilyn Munroe, the band takes you through the story, each song creating it's own atmosphere, each with strong hooks, each continuing the story of Angel. Peter Daltrey's vocals are amazing, and the band is solid. What does stand out is that the band is not typical of 1971. They sound much more current than any band from that period. Bands of this period were about long instrumental breaks, lots of solos. These guys stayed on point, kept the songs to storytelling, which is why they sound so current, and keep you involved.
