This one is often regarded as the best Akkerman album of the Eighties, and most probably also one of his best ever.

The opening track "Valdez" sets the tone for the whole album with its eerie dreamlike quality. "Heavy Pleasure" is the most rock orientated piece with Akkermans playing being delightfully understated. "Visions of blue" is one of those tracks that seems to reveal something new on every listening. "CS" is a classic Akkerman piece, and one which he still plays today. "Bird island" finishes the set and provides a fine jazz workout for all the musicians concerned.

There's some great players on this album (Jasper Van't Hof & Joachim Kühn amongst others).


Update from Maarten de Boer (one of the technicians on the recording):
I came across this website and noticed your question "why did they put a fender stratocaster on the sleeve".
The answer is simple. It is the guitar he used at this recording
The strat was used at a2 and a3.
For all other tracks he used a Roland synthesizer guitar, a very expensive Gibson jazz guitar and a classical guitar on a1 and b1. By the way the feedback tone on a3 was realised in the control room not in the recording room. I choose to leave the room before recording. We used a pair of huge Urei 815 monitors.
Regards Maarten de Boer