It might be obvious, but this has always been one of my favorite albums from Electric Light Orchestra. The opening instrumental is one that’s well known throughout a lot the populace. There are some other well-known cuts, too. It’s all quite effective and still holds up well. It should be noted that I reviewed a couple of these songs before on a best of album review. For the sake of consistency, those song reviews have been copied or adapted for use here.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2014  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Dramatic, and rather creepy symphonic elements play, while a backward tracked spoken voice is heard. “The music is reversible, but time is not, turn back, turn back, turn back.” Weird music continues to grow in a way that’s still quite entertaining and compelling. It’s quite symphonic, Then it powers out into the familiar music pattern. It’s distinctly ELO styled rock music. Some great melodies emerge over this backdrop, but then it gets fast paced and some violin solos over the top. The piece continues to evolve from there in great symphonic prog fashion. This instrumental is a very powerful number. It’s a great way to start the set in style, too.

Except for the symphonic elements at the start, this almost feels like a power pop tune in the intro. The guitar sound is surely keeping with that. As it builds out the keyboards over the top bring more of that progressive rock element. This is a real powerhouse that does a great job of merging those sounds. There are some great shifts and changes, and there’s a drop to purely symphonic progressive rock mid-track.