Search - Caravan :: Waterloo Lily (Mlps)

Still good, but not as good as their previous album

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 09/04/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Waterloo Lily marks the first lineup change in Caravan. David Sinclair left to briefly join Matching Mole. And a new keyboardist came in: Steve Miller, no, not the American Steve Miller who gave us The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle, but an Englishman named Steve Miller who was the brother of Matching Mole and Hatfield & the North's Phil Miller. As it's plainly obvious that Miller preferred the electric piano where D. Sinclair preferred the Hammond organ. The electric piano made Caravan move in to a more jazzy direction. And while Waterloo Lily isn't as good as In the Land of Grey & Pink, it still has some great material, like the title track, "The Love in Your Eye", and "Song & Signs". There tends to a bunch of lenghty jazzy jamming as well that might turn a few people off, but to me, it isn't bad. This was their first album to feature an orchestra as well, as demonstrated on "The Love in Your Eye". Sadly this was the last Caravan album to feature Richard Sinclair, as he would leave to join the likes of Hatfield & the North and Camel. While Waterloo Lily isn't the best album in Caravan's catalog, it's still well worth having."

Prim psychedelia

BENJAMIN MILER | 06/14/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this having heard little about the band, and having heard nothing. Being from Canterbury, I was expecting them to be blissed-out freaks like Gong or the Soft Machine. However, if anything, this is a very organized-sounding band, even in their longer, improvised pieces. There is a strong jazz influence, but also some traces of classical and psychedelic rock. The lyrics range from hippie-love type stuff to the bawdy title track.Pretty good stuff, and worth buying if you like so-called "progressive" music (I do)."

Classic Caravan

BENJAMIN MILER | 08/02/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is classic Caravan with a twist of jazz, compliments of keyboardist Steve Miller. Since Miller's playing is outstanding, Caravan does not seem to lose a beat with the temporary departure of Dave Sinclair (of Nine Feet Underground fame). Richard Sinclair and Pye Hastings are solid on vocals. The album's highlight is "The Love In Your Eye" suite, a true Caravan classic that again spotlights the band's musicianship and overall ability to craft long and intricate progressive rock songs. Highly recommended!"