Blackbirds - Touch Of Music (1971) LP

The Blackbirds were going in a much more prog rock aligned direction on their second and final album. That much is evident from the opening instrumental, "Praladium," which sounds kind of like Emerson, Lake & Palmer with a dusting of bubblegum pop, as ludicrous as that sounds. The cathedral-like aspects of the organ were amplified upon on this outing, and at times it seems like it might actually be a subtle satire of the kind of pomp rock being ground out by ELP and others during the era. It's got more cheer, verve, and a gutsier edge than typical keyboard-dominated progressive acts. At the same time there's a quasi-religious vapor to some of the proceedings, as though they're performing a prog rock mass of sorts. Like much prog rock, the instrumental parts of the songs do tend to go on longer than necessary, which is why this album rates lower than its predecessor, although it's still stamped with some alluringly sorrowful melodies and vocals.