COMING UP FOR AIR

Descent progrock from the Netherlands. Female singer Cindy Oudshoorn steals the show with her classy and passionate sound. It directly made me think of Kaipa's Keyholder. I have only listened to the disk one single time, but no doubt it'll need some more turns for me to really catch up with the beautiful melodies and guitarplay. This is the first 'normal' album after two concept albums (Merlin and Nostradamus). I personally don't think Rob Vunderink is a very good singer, but he doesn't get much room (only Sad State of Affairs is 'his' song). Most songs are sensible and quite sad, like the fine Broken White. There are some pretty heavy ones as well, like the starter and the finisher Alienation and title song Coming up for Air (which are both great songs). Not as good as their masterpiece Merlin - Bard of the Unseen, but this disk will be a good introduction for everyone who wants to get acquaintanced with Kayak and hasn't done so yet. Great musicians!