Taken
as a whole, this album
stands as a high
watermark of the
Aussie progressive
Rock era. It's a
remarkable album of
extraordinary skill
and rare precision.
The song arrangements
are free flowing, yet
tightly structured and
highlight Doug Ford's
exemplary guitar
technique. The guitar
sounds are phenomenal
with Doug's heavy
fuzzed leads and Glenn
Wheatly's solid bass
lines driving the
music ever onwards.
Tracks like Answer
Lies Beyond, The
Lesson So Listen,
Melodies of St Kilda
and Southern Crossare
built around incisive
heavy rock riffs. They
also contain some of
the most incendiary,
free-form, acid-fried
guitar freakouts
you're ever likely to
hear on an Aussie
progressive album.
Beneath the Sun
possess an intriguing
psych/country tinged
edge, while the
majestic pop of Love
Is benefits from the
addition of a trilling
horn arrangement.
The band even tackled
the grandiose
orchestrations of the
Moody Blues styled
Games We Play Part I
& II with
considerable style.
The album ends on a
beautifully elegiac
and reflective note
with the gentle folksy
strains of Thyme To
Rhyme.
A Toast To Panama Red
is a truly awesome
progressive rock
masterpiece and the
absolute best
Australian album of
the period. (Ian
McFarlaine/collectorsfrenzy.com)
Doug Ford - Lead
Guitar, Acoustic
Guitar, Vocals
Jim Keays - Vocals
Colin Burgess - Drums,
Percussion, Vocals
Glenn Wheatley - Bass,
Vocals