Not exactly a fairy-tale return
It's fifteen years between studio records for prog veterans Legend - an Axl Rose sized gap if ever there was one - but if their fans were nervously anticipating a fundamental shift in the band's modus operandi they can rest assured that "Cardinal Points" is firmly rooted in the progressive rock traditions of extreme song lengths, virtuoso instrumentation and a highfalutin central theme.
The theme of "Cardinal Points" is concerned with the four points of the compass and their supposed relationship with the elements of Western mysticism: earth, air, fire and water. Brevity is not something the band deals in when pursuing these ideas. Each track passes ten minutes in duration incorporating many movements in grandiose arrangements. The music is less inclined towards cold studio technicality with elements of jazz, folk, world music all present in acoustic and electric forms along with the traditional prog rock moments - long solos, atmospheric synths and semi-operatic vocals from returning vocalist Kerry Parker.
The compass and elements seem to have only tangential relationship to the actual music on "Cardinal Points". There are some literal nods to the concept to remind listeners of the inspiration: whooshing wind sounds on track 'Whisper on the Wind', rain and twinkling globules of bass on the intro to 'Drop in the Ocean' and crashing waves as the album's coda but the music is largely a mellow hippy-ish take on prog. The concept of "Cardinal Points" can quite easily be sidelined.
When Legend get the lead out and rock or strip their sound to the very basics eschewing their more outre prog tendencies they're pretty good. But too often these songs simply plod along waiting to unleash the guitar or synthesiser driven big finale. It's also clear that the fifteen years spent away have not been used to explore new sounds as some of the instrumental touches on "Cardinal Points" are teeth gnashingly cringe worthy, just check out the Krypton Factor style effects that open 'Whisper on the Wind', so much so that they often detract from the moments of quality.