With , his proper debut as a solo artist after the late-'60s dissolution of his groundbreaking band , vocalist/songwriter turned all of his musical gifts inward. Titled after the span between 1970 and 1971 in which it was slowly recorded, is a gorgeous and subtle document of heavy changes in 's life, reflecting on the time directly following the end of his band and a crushing breakup. A palpable melancholy runs through even the most chipper songs, noticeable in the hints of disdain on upbeat lounge rock opener "She Loves the Way They Love Her" before taking center stage when the energy comes down on soft chamber pop numbers like "Misty Roses" and "Though You Are Far Away." The album is split mostly between these two approaches, with islands of blue-eyed soul like "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed" and the wistful catchiness of "Caroline Goodbye" separated by long passages of minimal Baroque pop. Some of the most powerful songs are those that present nothing more than spare string arrangements and 's aching, whispery vocals. "Smokey Day" somehow achieves a somber kind of psychedelia, with 's eerie double-tracked vocal harmonies floating on a cloud of wandering strings. The mood throughout is consistently gentle but never sleepy, as deft construction and sophisticated songwriting make even the most restrained songs captivating. The labored production, detailed composition, and deliberate pace of all cohere to perfectly mirror the emotional upheaval of trying to mend a broken heart. 's work with produced some of the most inarguably important psychedelic pop of its era, but in its own quiet way, is even more ambitious than were at their creative peak. The production alone speaks to this, employing live string players and moving meticulously where limited budgets and recording deadlines only allowed for Mellotron parts to represent the string sounds on ' definitive work . Though former and have a hand in production and songwriting, the atmosphere here is solitary and reflective, differing from the collaborative excitement that crackled in even the more subdued material. Marked by a thoughtfulness that's always on the brink of despair, is an understated masterpiece. It drifts by quickly but connects immediately, capturing the same stir of conflicting feelings as remembering a time that will never happen again, or a romance you wish hadn't ended quite so soon. ~ Fred Thomas