A sonic step forward for Denver
4
By Derek Rubinoff
Although it's lesser known in Denver's catalog, Farewell Andromeda is a fine album, and a move toward radio-friendly country pop. Despite not having a major hit (like Rocky Mountain High off the preceding album), Farewell Adromeda contains some great tracks like the strong opener I'd Rather Be a Cowboy, a fine cover of John Prine's Angel of Montomery, and of course the dreamy, progressive-folk of Farewell Andromeda. Notably, RCA must have awarded Devner with the means for better production values in the wake of his previous hit LP, as Farewell Andromeda is a major advance in terms of sound engineering and production quality. Where Rocky Mountain High sounds more "AM radio" and constrained in sonic dimension, Farewell Andromeda is the first record of Denver's where you feel like he and his band are in front and surrounding you. Mike Taylor's intricate, intimate guitar work of Rocky Mountain High is missing here; in place, the expanded sonics and orchestral embelishments are rich and spatial. The cover artwork is an appropriate representation of the lyrical allusions and sonic color of the LP. The record is a rewarding listen and continues to sound great some 46 years after its release.
