Lost Weekend - Presence Of Mind

Year of Release: 2000
Label: Frontiers
Catalog Number: FRCD 023
Format: CD
Total Time: 62:31:00

Remembering the rather mediocre debut album released by these guys a few years ago, I must admit that I did not have high thoughts for this CD. Then again, I must tell you that this album really caught me off guard and this is one of the biggest surprises for me this year so far. The album is filled to the core with guitar and pompous keyboard driven heavy AOR with small hints of NWOBH elements. Although there have been a couple of replacements in the band since their debut, it is hard to believe it is the same band.

The songs are really strong, with addictive melody lines and choruses, and the mid-ranged vocals of Paul Uttley are simply wonderful. Although it took some spins to really appreciate these songs, they just keep getting stronger and stronger for each spin. The album balances nicely between rockers and strong ballads. The production is good, although there is always room for improvement.

I urge every AOR fan to check this one out and don't get fooled by the mediocre debut as Presence Of Mind is simply an album filled from beginning to end with brilliant AOR.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Holding On (4:58) / I Need You (4:50) / One Chance (5:01) / Slippin' Through My Hands (5:27) / The Best Is Yet To Come (5:49) / Kiss From The Heart (4:57) / All Hands To The Fire (4:19) / One Day At A Time (5:41) / This Moment So Long (5:17) / I Don't Want To Be Your Friend (7:26) / Can You Believe (5:06) / In Time (3:40)

Musicians:
Paul Uttley - vocals
David Thompson - guitar
Robin Patchett - bass
Jack Himsworth - drums

Discography:
Lost Weekend (1996)
Presence Of Mind (2000)
New Religion (2002)
The Story So Far (2005)
Forever Moving On (2006)
Fear And Innocence (2008)

Genre: Melodic Rock/AOR

Origin UK

Added: December 31st 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.lostweekend.org.uk
Hits: 2285
Language: english