TOTO: IV (A.O.R.): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"IV" is the album of the consecration for Toto. Propelled on the front of the stage since their first opus, the Californians did not stop in their following productions to erase their image of clean musicians, confined in comfortable and without asperities musics. Thus "Hydra" then "Turn Back" hardened the tone and simplified the sound, for a mixed success. In 1982, they decided to go back to their roots; sophistication made its return in the composition and the execution and the extreme quality of the production will allow the musicians to fully exercise their talent.

Because "IV", beyond the considerable success met, is the album of balance: the fusion operates fully within the sextet, the interpreters taking their exact place with a communicative pleasure. The voices of David Paich and Bobby Kimball complement each other perfectly, and they are supported by remarkably efficient choirs. The keyboards regain the preponderant place they had abandoned in "Turn Back", the piano assures a big part of the rhythmic lines and the synths are very sought after. The softness of the keyboards remains unequalled on the famous 'Africa'. The rhythm section, with its very worked percussions and a bass more groovy than ever, competes of precision. And Steve Lukather's guitar shines by some very welcome interventions.

On the composition side, it is the solidity in the eclecticism. The spectrum of genres covered is very wide, from soul (It's a Feeling) to quasi-hard rock (Afraid of Love), passing by the jazzy (Witing for Your Love), the blues (Make Believe), the effective slow (I Won't Hold You Back) and the FM Rock (Good For You, We Made It). And to add variety, the instrumentations were enriched, calling upon the brass (Rosanna), the sax (Make Believe), the orchestra (I Won't Hold You Back), and naturally the keyboards, with beautiful research of "symphonic" presentation as in Lovers in the Night.

More than a big commercial success for Toto (n°1 in sales in 1982, 28 nominations and 6 awards at the Grammy Awards), this fourth album represents almost the best in FM music at that time. The only regret is that the talent of the instrumentalists is not more put forward in more extended musical parts; gap filled in the live representations of the group which knows how to stretch very effectively its compositions with soli more enriched than those present in the studio albums. - Official website

TOTO

IV

CBS

A.O.R.