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Released in 1975 this is the sixth studio album by the Canterbury Prog Rockers! The album kicks off with the impressive “The Show of Our Lives” which whilst not their best composition ever it is (as always) well-played with the guitar of Hastings and piano of Sinclair prominent. “Stuck In A Hole” doesn’t excite but was (given it’s length) the obvious single release choice. The latest bass-man to join the ranks composed the ballad “Lover” which follows, it’s a wonderful track which is given a grandeur sound courtesy of the use of orchestral strings which drift nicely into the opening of another nice track “No Backstage Pass” which is next up. A slow paced track which includes a nice ‘rocky’ mid-section. “Welcome The Day” passes without offense but doesn’t do justice to the musicianship which is the strong part of this band for me. That is reserved (it seems) for the 18-minute epic which filled the majority of Side Two on the original release; “The Dabsong Conshirtoe” is in the main a piece written by keyboards man David Sinclair. Whilst quite different to his previous opus “For Richard” from the “If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You” album (5 years previous) it does allow the band members to again confirm that musically this was very much a very-underrated band. The 2001 remastered release is the copy you want to pick up though; as it includes three ‘bonus’ tracks; the single release of “Stuck In A Hole”, the previously un-released “Keeping Back My Love” and a wonderful live recording of the aforementioned “For Richard” which was recorded in 1974. I particularly like this version as all band members are in top form; none more so than Geoff Richardson who gets to show-off his virtuosity on the viola. So in summary “Cunning Stunts” is not Caravan at their very best but if you pick up the right copy you get the two longest tracks together on the same release and alone they are worth the spend of your hard-earned.Read full review
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