After setting a high standard with the band’s double-album debut, former Cotton Mather front man Robert Harrison pares down the set list, though not the lofty ambition, with Future Clouds and Radar’s sophomore set. Truth be told, Harrison still needs to fine-tune his approach; while Peoria shows a penchant for melancholy melodies and a wistful glance, the sweeter songs are forced to compete with more amorphous entries, a kaleidoscopic cacophony that finds the group becoming increasingly unhinged and badly in need of a more defined direction. Opening track, “The Epcot View,” and the entry that follows, a mellow, meandering “Old Edmund Ruffin,” would seem to bode well for Harrison and company’s ability to manage the mood, but the trippy psychedelic indulgence of “Eighteen Months” and “Follow the Crane” abandon any sense of melodic intent, which isn’t recouped until the album’s final fade. So too, with only eight offerings in all, the band’s allowed itself very little room to negotiate for nuance. Ultimately, Peoria shows promise, but until Future Clouds and Radar find some focus, the forecast for success remains somewhat overcast indeed. (Star Apple Kingdom)
