Friend's Friend's Friend - AUDIENCE***

Nothing You Do/Belladonna Moonshine/It Brings A Tear/Raid/Right On Their Side/Ebony Variations/Priestess/ Friend's Friend's Friend

Follow up release from the British progressive group Audience that featured an eclectic mix of musical instrumentation. Despite plenty of publicity they never achieved a commercial breakthrough.

“This is how I like my prog - full of great melodies, sometimes acoustic, sometimes rocking, but always full of twist and turns.”

“Friend's Friend's Friend is a much more balanced album than their first. Audience juxtaposed some serious folk overtones with a very British approach to storytelling and tongue-in-cheek humour. Their constitution was rather unique; there weren't too many bands whose instrumentation consisted primarily of acoustic guitars, banjos, saxophones and woodwinds, electric bass, and drums/percussion. Such was Audience's aural palette, and it gave each member ample space to show just how intensely good they were as musicians, both as individuals and in combination.”

“Friend's Friend's Friend was Audience's second album, and I certainly won't argue with anyone who wants to consider it to be their best. It showed perfectly how they could navigate the realm of shorter, more accessible songs as well as the longer, instrumentally focused pieces.”

“Audience were a band with an unusual line-up of instrumentation unafraid to jump head first into territory dominated by the best prog rock bands of their time. Just the same they could rock with the best of 'em.”

“This album was a unique blend of folk, jazz, psychedelic and rock elements and should be considered an essential one in any prog collection.”

“With an original instrumental gamut and above average skills Audience were irresistible. Some of the melodies are catchy almost poppy, taking unexpected directions with jazzy improvisations or experimental woodwind solos.”

“Beautifully balanced, it leans from hard bluesy rock to ballad to spaced out jazzy meanderings. New listeners may find the vocalist’s voice a bit grating, but the sheer musicianship and innovation sees it through. In all, a decidedly well balanced record.”