Hayward has always been at his best as a mystical/romantic, and
Songwriter is the solo album that best displays these qualities around a relatively lean sound. From the gentle, lullaby-like "Raised on Love" to the ethereal mystical "Nostradamus," the album is a beguiling collection of material, more personal than his work with
The Moody Blues. The material is richly scored, yet lean enough to seem like chamber music next to
The Moody Blues' rock symphonies. ~ Bruce Eder