HAMBURGER CONCERTO

Focus and the 'Hamburger Concerto'. I guess the name comes from 'Brandenburg Concertos' by Bach. These guys have always had good sense of humour. This album is my favourite album of Focus with the 'Focus III'. I can't decide which one is better. This album contains six songs, which all are very good. Moving to invidual songs:

The first track is similiar to 'Elspeth of Nottingham'. 'Delitae Musicae' is very good folky song, but for me it is too short. I would love to listen the medieval folk side of Focus little bit more. Then kicks off the 'Harem Scarem'. The names confuse me. I have no idea what most of the names in the album means, but does that matter? For me: No. This song is a very good prog rock song. The beginning is very classy rock music, and the middle parts are amazing with the guitar melodies and rocky drumming. Very good track. Next is 'La Cathédral De Strasbourg', which has this very epic and beautiful piano at the beginning. Very good track with angelic piano playing, flute melodies and vocals. Then there is 'Birth', which starts off with good symphonic and classical keyboard melody, and then develops into mellow rock. The middle part is very smooth and soft, but the guitar melodies are very edgy. Very fine track. Then there is the epic 'Hamburger Concerto', which gives the listener just what she/he needs. Full 20 minutes of pure Focus at its best, I can't describe this song any better. The last song 'Early Birth' is good outro for 'Hamburger Concerto' the song and the album. The tracks together represent what Focus really means.

The album is great, and while writing this review I figured out that I like this album more than 'Focus III'. I can't find anything bad in this album, Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer have made excellent job. Can't think of any better description than: Essential: a masterpiece of progressive music. All prog fans should buy this album.