Exploration. Prior to the sixties, a British audience might equate this notion with romantic exploits of mountaineering or adventure on the high seas…Sir Francis Drake sorts of things. With the sixties in full swing the Moody Blues in 1968 created In Search of the Lost Chord, a treatise on the exploration of the mind and spirit. Thematically this is about seeking deeper meaning and finding that singular thread. This quest is more than just a musical journey; it is humanity’s search for a universal connection to each other—and the universe itself.

The Moodies’ previous effort was the stunning orchestral concept album Days of Future Passed (1967) produced by Tony Clarke. Clarke’s production loomed large over the band’s career. He encouraged and developed their psychedelic sound on eight records between 1967 to 1978. While Days utilized and

Thematically this is about seeking deeper meaning and finding that singular thread.

orchestra as augmentation, In Search of the Lost Chord sees all members playing new and exotic instruments to convey the songs’ moods. Keyboardist Mike Pinder’s use of a Mellotron contributed greatly to the iconic sound of the Moody Blues, the instrument intrinsically woven through their early seventies work.

“Visions of Paradise” features a sweet-sounding flute and acoustic guitar backing which is pure bliss. Indian instruments intertwine with Mellotron strings and every line reads like Victorian poetry. The lyrics of songs like “Voices in the Sky” and “House of Four Doors” paired with the poetic passages by drummer Graeme Edge prove what talented wordsmiths they truly were, all cradled in harmoniously structured music designed for relaxation.