Ancient Vision - Focus Or Blinders
	Released: 1994 Label: self-released Cat. No. TM-02 Total Time: 62:21
	Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, July 1999 What struck me first was how much grizzeled vocalist Tom Hook sounds at times like Ian Anderson - most noticably on "Rock Child." But, oddly enough, in the case of "Tonight," he also sounds like Billy Joel (circa '78), even down to the song's lyrics and instrumentation (mostly). Thematically following on from their previous release, The Vision, I find I actually like this release better. The mode for most of the tracks here is muscular and gravelly - Hook's voice would sound right singing bawdy medieval drinking songs. However, the shortest track here, "Dreams", is instead very nice, gentle, and dreamlike acoustic piece, with a pleasant sax solo. "Mother Earth" ends with a very jazzy sax line. "Reprisals," the closing track, starts off very atmospheric (almost uncharacteristic) and then seques into, well, reprisals of refrains from the earlier tracks. But, comparisons aside, this is a really good album - listenable, and not entirely a Tull clone. Recommended. More about Focus Or Blinders: Track Listing: Fail Not Me (4:53) / Rock Child (4:46) / What Is Not Given Is Lost (3:56) / Tonight (4:48) / Dreams (Part I) (1:59) / Why Send A Man In To Do A Boy's Job (10:12) / Father And Son (5:33) / We Are Not Gentlemen (5:32) / Focus Or Blinders (6:12) / Mountains (5:51) / Mother Earth (5:44) / Hope, Love and Fear (1:58) / Reprisals (9:09) Musicians: Tom May - Guitars and Keyboards Barry Spry - Bass Joe Allen - Keyboards Rob Leythem - Drums Russ Gross - Guitars Tom Hook - Vocals Contact: The Fire P O Box 13671 Kansas, MO 64199 Website: members.aol.com/avnow/index.htm Note: will open new browser window Email: avnow@aol.com Discography The Vision (1991) Focus or Blinders (1995) Ancient Promises (1997) Buy this title at:
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