Best known for his vast knowledge of progressive music having written a book on the YES group, Tim Morse is also a member The Mangoes, a band he shares with his musical cohort Bret Bingham. The follow up to the band’s self-titled debut from 2015, the  8-cut CD EP called Pale Blue Dot drives home the duo’s prog-rock logic, sounding at times like early Genesis. Tim and Bret get ace backup from several assisting musicians including a fine rhythm section of Chris Capozza (bass) and Andrew Glasmacher (drums). 

Every track here has something to offer. One could easily single out track 3 here called “Mystery” providing one of Bret’s best vocals yet. Tim Morse impresses with his vocals on “When The Sky Fell Down” yet the pair hit their highest high with a  fantastic Mangoes cover of “Free As A Bird,” the Beatles reunion single leading to the arrival of their 1995 Anthology series. Featuring both Bret and Tim on lead vocals, the song underscores the Beatle-flavored vibes running throughout the entire album. Andrew mixed “Free As A Bird” as well. Short but sweet Pale Blue Dot makes a primo introduction to the Mangoes.