Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 8. 1971
Record — A Question of Balance ths 3 — The Moody Blues Threshold Records
Record
A Question of Balance ths 3
The Moody Blues Threshold Records
Once upon a time there were five guys who wrote and played beautiful music. The Group was called The Moody Blues and the music they created was both original and worthwhile. Their early music, as found on such LP's as "In Search of the Lost Chord" and "Threshold of a Dream" reflected the deceivingly simple yet terribly complex attitudes that they had to life and to music. These two records were essentially a search for truth — or for something more indescribable that can only be conceived in terms of truth. The "Moodies" seemed to be restrained by the limited vocabulary that is available to them.
page break"And to name this chord
is important to some
So they give it a word
and the word is OM"
(In Search of the Lost Chord)
"Threshold of a dream" was a really beautiful LP - it was a record which conjured up visions of a world of fairies, elves and hobbits, of a bygone age of knights and wizards.
"Are you sitting comfortably
let Merlin cast his spell
The golden age of Camelot
when Guinevere was Queen"
(Threshold of a Dream)
I get the feeling that the Moody Blues on these LP's deliberately insulated themselves from the modern world or from reality - yet were attempting to communicate with the world a message or judgement on reality. Their next LP showed that reality was indeed starting to infringe on their creations. This LP. 'To Our Children's Children's Children" was a stepping stone to (he latest Moody Blues LP.
A Question of Balance
This LP is structurally and creatively the most complex record that they have ever done. Compared it their earlier works the LP is "different", so alien was it to my ears that my first exposure to it sent me reeling back to the safety and familiarity of "Lost Chard". Don't get me wrong, it is an unmistakably Moody Blues sound but it is different in that unlike their earlier LPs this one is not "insulated" This LP is anything but insulated and is in my opinion a very real commentary on this modern society and as such should be made required listening for all.
It is an LP which jars the sensibilities yet provides us with some of the most beautiful music ever created in the modern music world. The music involves the listener, close one's eyes and all that they play will be converted into visual terms and a private audio-video dialogue will unfold before your senses.
The title is relevant to the score that they use and in fact the title is the story. From an opening which is wrought with questions and stark realisms the music proceeds to the other extreme, a balance which is not achieved but whose existence is realised. The LP doesn't provide us with any alternatives from present reality, it just shows us reality as it really is, not one of questions but one of an universal balance.
(I tell you, words cannot describe what is technically indescribable, words are just one medium in the act of communication and to describe the Moodies solely in these terms is to leave out many important facets.)
The first track on this LP is "Question" which was the last 45 released by the group. This however is a— different recording to the 45 version, being longer and also having more intricate instrumentals. Written by Justin Hayward, I personally don't think that it's his best, and from the pen that wrote "Voices in the Sky", "Are you Sitting Comfortably", and "Nights in White Satin" I would have expected a bit more, nevertheless he makes up for it later in the LP. Lyrics are the usual meaningful words that Hayward writes.
"Why do we never get an answer
when we 're knocking at the door?
There's a thousand million questions
about hate and death and war."
From "Question" we merge into "How is it (we are here)" written by Mike Pinder. Pinder's pretty good on the instrumentals being responsible for "Voyage". His music for "How is it" is fantastic with his waving strings and guitars. Lyrics are more or less trite but then Pinder is not to hot on the words (however he surprises us by improving a bit later). The words still have a strong social comment.
"Mens mighty mine machines
digging in the ground
stealing rare minerals
where they can be found
concrete caves with iron doors
bury it again
while a starving, frightened world
fills the sea with grain"
Graeme Edge wrote "Don't you feel Small", and like Hayward he can turn out some good words. The music is also mighty and in relation to the other instruments the drums dominate this tune (Edge is the drummer) and by contrast Ray Thomas provides a good flute sound.
Side one of the LP ends with 'Tortoise and the Hare". John Lodge wrote the number, which is a good solid sound and also amplifies the terrific instrumental versatility and talent of the Moody Blues. Bear in mind that only five guys play all the instruments that appear on this LP.
It's worth mentioning at this point that although the tunes are designated to individual members of the group it is obvious that in most cases all members have an influence in the creation of a particular track. The influence of Justin Hayward in particular is obvious and he is probably the prime link with the group.
Side two opens with a beautiful Hayward composition entitled "It's Up to You" and the lyrics and music make this more representative of his work than "Question".
"Rise let us see you
dawning is the day
misty meadows
you will find your way."
"Listen we trying to find you"
"flow to the sea
I you know where to go
still we are free
no-one tells the wind which way to blow."
"Listen we think we can see you"
"Listen we think we have found you"
This tune is very reminiscent of "Watching and Waiting" which Hayward wrote in conjunction with Thomas on their present LP, "To Our Children's Children's Children".
The music to "Dawning" sets the mood of the lyrics so making this tune very effective and allowing it to stand out above all others.
Mike Pinder wrote the next song "Melancholy Man" and as I mentioned before his lyrics have improved. This tune is essentially a lyrical tune, not a musical track which is unlike the Pinder tradition but however he does provide us with his trademark — a terrific way out instrumental break in the middle. The instrumentals suit the mood of the tune, very sad and melancholy. There is however one sore point and that is what can be only described as background wailing which is rather overdone and tends to drown out the lead vocalist.
"The Balance" written by Edge and Thomas is the last track on the LP. A good tune which gives us the realisation of what the world actually is - a balance, and what the whole LP is about is summed up by the lyrics.
"Just open your eyes and realise
the way it's always been."
* * *
The cover of "A Question of Balance" is important when related to the LP. The outside of the fold-out is a visual attempt to communicate to the "listener" what they are trying to tell us in music. It shows a world in turmoil, it describes what man is doing to his world. It shows conflict, reminders of war. The nuclear holocaust. A huge face with huge grabbing hands, in one of which is a Cigar. The Capitalist? who is groping toward us through the smoke and pollution that is being poured out by his factory chimneys, other facets such as the destruction of nature and wild life are also prrepresented.
Below this we have a quiet beachside scene which shows people quietly and happily sitting in their deck chairs blissfully unaware of what is happening to them and their world - but on the horizon the clouds of doom are forming - for what" The Moodies are telling us to open our eyes and realise that the universal balance must be maintained. The balance is there, it's just that we must find and accept it.