Caravan
Access All Areas (Demon, 2015)
Access All Areas is the new 2-disc set by Caravan, pioneers of the Canterbury style of progressive rock. Caravan had many lineups and formats throughout the years. Access All Areas was recorded live in Nottingham in 1990 featuring the classic lineup of Pye Hastings on guitar and vocals, Richard Sinclair on bass and vocals, Richard Coughlan on drums, Dave Sinclair on keyboards, and Jimmy Hastings on saxophone and flute.
Disc 1 features the audio part of the live performance. On this program, Caravan played its best known material, combining short pop and folk-rock songs with lengthy progressive instrumentals. Access All Areas begins with the boogy rock piece ‘Headloss,’ and continues with the pop ballad ‘Videos of Hollywood.’
Caravan shifts to its legendary Canterbury style progressive rock on the lengthy piece ‘Nine Feet Underground’ where the listener is treated to captivating interplay between the keyboards and saxophone. Dave Sinclair treats the listener to an extensive series of keyboard melodies and improvisations using his signature pitch pending technique. What I love about live albums like this is that musicians will take the familiar melodies and develop new variations. It’s a real treat for fans of keyboard-oriented progressive rock with a jazz edge.
Next comes the fun song ‘If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You’ from 1970, where the group layers vocals and features a saxophone solo.
On the folk-prog piece ‘Winter Wine’ Richard Sinclair masterfully develops creative bass lines while he sings and leads into more fabulous keyboard solos by his cousin Dave.
Next is one of the most recognizable songs by Caravan, ‘In the Land of Grey and Pink,’ a popular folk-rock concert favorite.
The album ends with another progressive rock masterpiece, ‘For Richard’. This classic begins softly with guitars, string synths, outstanding flute, bass and vocals and builds up into riveting keyboard melodies.
Disc 2 contains video versions of the pieces, two of which you can see in the Youtube versions featured here. The sound is better on the DVD than in YouTube. It’s a great video to watch although occasionally the director misses the keyboard or sax solo.
Access All Areas presents memorable pieces by one of the finest British rock acts from the 1970s. Their signature Canterbury organ sound has inspired numerous musicians throughout Europe, North America and Japan.
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