Kayak - Phantom of the Night (1978) [Hi-Res]

Featuring slick harmonizing and heavily compressed drum, this release completed Kayak's transition to keyboard-based pop. The once-intricate bass playing is now almost absent from the mix, and odd times are forsaken for rigid 4/4 patterns. Despite this, the undistinguished single "Ruthless Queen" proved to be the band's biggest hit, nearing the top of the charts in Holland. Though Edward Reekers is consistently too squeaky-clean in his singing, "Journey Through Time" might satisfy old fans with its trading off of riffs between an off-kilter guitar hook and synth flutes. "Crime of Passion" marches over a martial piano line, and "No Man's Land" makes the most of a driving (if simple) rhythm section underlying needling guitar solos and warbling Hammond organ. If this album retains much interest, though, it's probably more for its original vinyl issue as a nifty picture disc than for the music on it. ~ Paul Collins

Tracklist:
01 - Kayak - Keep the Change (3:38)
02 - Kayak - Winning Ways (3:37)
03 - Kayak - Daphne (Laurel Tree) (5:10)
04 - Kayak - Journey Through Time (3:29)
05 - Kayak - Phantom of the Night (5:01)
06 - Kayak - Crime of Passion (3:36)
07 - Kayak - The Poet and the One Man Band (3:48)
08 - Kayak - Ruthless Queen (4:53)
09 - Kayak - No Man's Land (4:08)
10 - Kayak - First Signs of Spring (3:44)