Waters Of Change - BEGGARS OPERA***

Time Machine/Lament/I've No Idea/Nimbus/Festival/Silver Peacock Intro/Silver Peacock/Impromptu/The Fox

Waters Of Change was the follow up album from Scottish progressive band Beggars Opera. They were more popular in Germany where they registered a hit single with Time Machine.

“Nice piece of early progressive rock with an excellent first side, and an above average second. Time Machine is the standout, but I also really enjoyed I've No Idea and the instrumental Nimbus. Very much worth looking into if you are into progressive rock.”

“After their magnificent debut their second studio disc Waters Of Change feels like a letdown. Although it’s definitely not a bad album this one feels like it's not on the same level. The eight minutes long opener Time Machine is probably my favourite song here but I can't call any of these tracks true masterpieces.”

“The songwriting approach here moves away from the Keith Emerson inspired approach of the previous album. Gone are the super-fast songs dominated by Alan Park's organ tossing out classical quotations. In its place are more balanced songs where the other instrumentalists get a more equal share of the spotlight, and the pace is a bit more varied than on Act One.”

“A disappointing work after the impressive Act One, but still a pretty cool album of early-70s prog rock, featuring a mixture of soft psych-oriented textures, organ smashes and symphonic overtones.”

“The keyboards arrangements, which include mellotron, piano and organ, provide a great diversity, plus some duets between female Virginia Scott and excellent musician Alan Park.”

"Time Machine is a great opening piece with great guitar organ and mellotron work. Lament is simply Alan Park playing a Scottish influenced song on organ. I Have No Idea is back to the more familiar sound of the band at the time. Nimbus is a rather down-sounding piece with guitar and mellotron. Festival has a more lively feel to it. Silver Peacock features some big mellotron brass with narration before the song proper starts. A short little interlude with cello and organ is found on Impromptu before ending with The Fox, which is a great piece that goes through several changes.”