Peter Green “In the Skies” (1979)

So, after eight years away from the music scene does Peter Green still have it? Of course he does! This album is almost, for me, a testament to the longevity of raw talent. Considering all that Peter Green had been through throughout the decade, it's quite something that he could come up with something this good (as well as putting out a record better than this years effort from his former bandmates). The only slight downer is the uncertainty over which songs Peter Green actually plays lead on due to his ill-health, but that doesn't really detract from the quality of these songs. There's a really laid back feel to the album, like mellow blues. "A Fool No More" was the only song I'd heard prior to purchasing the album and it's probably this song that sounds most like Green's Mac efforts (it was originally written for the first Fleetwood Mac album). The guitar playing and vocals are strong, as they are on the other vocal led tracks "In The Skies", "Seven Stars" and "Just For You". "In The Skies", "Tribal Dance" and "Proud Pinto" have Santana-esque rhythm sections and drums, underpinning the laid back mood and displaying Peter Green's musical influences. "Slabo Day" has a really nice riff and emotive leads (the sleeve notes state that Snowy White plays lead on this track), and "Apostle" is a beautiful closer to the album, displaying the feel and sensitivity of Green's compositions. As the first of Peter Green's comeback albums, "In The Skies" is a great effort and a worthy addition to the mans calatogue. –Tom