Time Is is a mixed musical bag, but a surprisingly decent one for most of its length, coming from the remnants of the Idle Race after the departure of its most celebrated member. The post-Jeff Lynne version of the Idle Race is a very different animal from the earlier incarnation of the group -- Mike Hopkins and Dave "Richie" Walker provide vocals far removed from Lynne's Lennon-esque stylings, very close in spirit, on "Sad O' Sad," to late acoustic Tyrannosaurus Rex (and, perhaps coincidentally, they were signed to the same label, Regal Zonophone, as that duo), and to Mungo Jerry at other times. Their flute embellishment on various songs gives them a vaguely progressive sound as well; coupled with their basic acoustic guitar sound and harmony singing, this version of the Idle Race and this album also recall the contemporary English act Prelude. Most of what's here is pleasant enough, until the group tries to get self-consciously heavy on "By the Sun," which sounds like a bad imitation of the Doors -- the fuzzed out electric guitar may have been intended to draw progressive rock listeners, but it's all been heard before, and better, elsewhere, particularly on the Byrds' "Eight Miles High," which it threatens to imitate at certain points. "Alcatraz" is little better as a high-energy guitar rocker, but those two songs are surrounded by absolutely beautiful acoustic songs. Completists need not fear owning it, and even fans of Lynne's work may enjoy hearing what his bandmates got into after he left for greener musical pastures.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo