Album: The Move, Looking On (Salvo)

[COURTESY OF THE MOVE ARCHIVE]

Looking On was a transitional album in The Move’s career, with Jeff Lynne drafted in to replace the cabaret-bound Carl Wayne and share some of Roy Wood’s songwriting burden, en route to ELO.

The drift from psychedelic pop to more eclectic priorities is signalled in Wood’s instrumental credit: “Oboe, sitar, slide guitar, cello, guitar, bass and all saxes” – which makes the predominance of heavy rock riffing all the more puzzling.

Proto-metal rocker “Brontosaurus” is the standout, but elsewhere prog-rock stodge like “What?” dominates. Lynne’s “Open Up Said The World At The Door” is the most preposterous, the baroque excesses of its kitchen-sink production accommodating foreground stints by the aforementioned sitar and oboe, and just about everything else in their instrument cupboard.

"Brontosaurus" from Looking On features in this month's Independent Audio Player. CLICK HERE to listen.

(Find out more at www.flyrecords.com and www.salvo-music.co.uk).

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