THE GARDEN

When I saw this band delivered a double CD with two true epics on it and also read comments that it had resemblance with the illustrious Flower Kings, I thought: why is this band in crossover ? You would think this is a clear case of symphonic prog. But after listening to it for a few times I have to conclude: the teams were right. Despite the forementioned this is not symphonic prog. The music and style come closer to the latest album by Presto Ballet (Lost Art of Time Travel) than to anything by TFK. And Presto Ballet is also in crossover so it makes sense.

The two epics have slight symphonical aspects like length and some instrumental passages but they are neither extremely progressive nor very complex. They are very good tracks but nothing exceptional. The sound also reminds a bit of Cryptic Vision and Magic Pie but that's the sound and not the style. There is not really a specific style detectable at this album. Sometimes ballad-like, sometimes heavy, sometimes rocky and sometimes slightly progressive.

Besides the two epical tracks there's the lengthy Angeliqua that appeals to me, especially the great guitar solo at the end. The other, shorter songs, are mostly nice but rarely excellent. It can only lead to one rating in the end and that has to be three stars. Slightly rounded down in this case.