FUTURE LEGENDS / SEVEN SECRETS

This compilation combines Fruup's first and second albums on a single CD. The band offered pretty good value in LP terms, so in order to avoid the need for a second CD, one track from each had to be omitted. The sleeve notes reassuring state that "We are sure this will not detract from your listening enjoyment".

The first album "Future legends" is generally regarded as the band's best. Each of the tracks is a carefully crafted mini-suite. While the band are to be commended for their sense of adventure, their song writing skills sometimes fail to match their ambitions. The rather uninspired arrangements and production also leave some of the tracks sounding weak. That said, "Future legends" remains an album which captures many of the essences of prog, and is certainly worthy of a listen.

"Seven secrets" is a bit of step backwards, the album lacking the initial impact of the band's debut, while feeling generally weak. There's still plenty of diversity and switching of tempo, but there's an underlying dullness and lack of inspiration.

There are conflicting opinions as to whether the missing tracks are essential but given that this single CD offers a cost effective way of obtaining a couple of rare albums, beggars cannot be choosers.

Future Legends / Seven Secrets is a CD re-release of Irish symphonic prog rock act Fruupp´s first two albums on one CD. As with most releases in this vein it´s a very good idea and an oppertunity for someone like me who doesn´t have the original albums to get acquainted with Fruupp´s music at a reasonable price. It should be noted that one track from each of the original albums have been omitted for the two albums to fit into the single CD format. Fruupp is not a very prolific group from the period and they only released 4 studio albums in their short existence between 1973 and 1975.

Future Legends (1973):

Fruupp plays some Peter Gabriel era Genesis inspired symphonic prog here on their debut album Future Legends. It´s very well composed and performed. All songs are good but nothing really stands out.

The sound quality isn´t really good, but for the time it´s ok.

The album starts with the classical intro Future Legends and then continues with Decision which is a good symphonic prog rock song. All songs have quiet and more rocking passages and the singing ranges from melodic to more rock sounding moments. There are even a jazzy vers in the song Decision. So there is nothing wrong with the diversity in the music. I´m entertained throughout the whole album. The influences are very clear though and at the end of the song: As Day Breaks With Dawn it´s almost a ripp-off of Gentle Giant´s vocal harmonies. It has to be mentioned though that this is the only place they sound like Gentle Giant. Fruupp´s overall sound is more in the vein of Peter Gabriel era Genesis.

The musicians are good without being outstanding.

This is a pretty average symphonic prog rock album from the early seventies and I´ll rate it 3 stars with the hope that Fruupp will get better on later albums.

Seven Secrets (1974):

Seven Secrets is the second studio album from Irish symphonic prog rock act Fruupp. Their debut was a pleasant and pretty good symphonic prog album, but I was never really excited about it and my overall impression with the album is that it´s pretty average for the genre. My impression with Seven Secrets is just about the same.

The music on Seven Secrets is very inspired by the big symphonic prog bands from the seventies and I think I hear a bit of Yes, ELP and lots of Genesis in Fruupp´s sound on Seven Secrets. I love this kind of music, but the problem with this genre, as it is with most genres, is that there are only a few excellent leaders and way too many imitators. I´ll say that Fruupp is an imitator. It´s not that their music is a Genesis clone or anything like that, but their sound is just not very personal. Let´s put it this way: When I listen to the music on Seven Secrets I´m not instantly reminded that it´s Fruupp I´m listening to. It could be just about any other seventies symphonic prog band playing.

The songs are generally very melodic and at times very classical music influenced ( listen to the beginning of Elizabeth). The vocals are not very exciting and doesn´t bring much to the music and I much prefer the instrumental parts. Wise as wisdom is my favorite with it´s mellow mood.

The musicianship is good, but again I have to point out that the vocals are not that well done and the vocal melodies are average at best. Fortunately the instrumental sections are worth investigating.

The production isn´t the best or most intriguing. The sound is average as the rest of the music.

I realize that my review hasn´t sounded very positive and I actually didn´t mean to sound this negative, because Seven Secrets is a good album, it just never reaches excellent in my book and therefore it deserves a 3 star rating. I liked the debut just a little more.

Conclusion:

Future Legends / Seven Secrets is a worthy purchase if you want to get acquainted with Fruupp´s music, but personally I don´t find that music very interesting and while this is not bad music it´s average at best. A 3 star rating is deserved IMO. The two albums on one CD initiative should be praised even though omitting tracks from the original albums is not something I would normally condone.

First - I really enjoy every Fruupp album, seams that their albums are great, delivering some Genesis symphonic prog, well not like the masters but close and second - I don't understand why their albums are rated so low, really. As I said on the previous review I've made on their last two albums gathered as this one 2 on 1 this compilation is really great to my ears. The first two albums - Future legends from 1973 and second one Seven secrets from 1974 are putet together here.

The first album of Fruupp - Future legends - 1973 is an underrated album in symphonic prog world, in fact all Fruupp albums are unnoticed by many prog listners. The music is well done, well played, has some very fine moments on guitar and keys, the overall impression is good, not far from Genesis same period. This irish band delivers some very strong pieces like Decision, Song For A Thought , the rest are also good. So 4 stars to this one easely.

Seven secrets - 1974 - the second album of Fruupp is another example of symphonic prog who is very underrated in my opinion, all the pieces stand as good, not a weak moments here, even in places some very refined and unique moments like :White Eyes, Three spires, the rest are great. Again a worthy album to my ears , 4 stars easely.

In comparation with their last two albums these first two are a little more uptempo , in places even more rougher, but great non the less. So , this compilation needs 4 stars for sure, all 4 Fruupp albums stand as great to me, and I'm not agree that they are a simple copy of Genesis ( Gabriel era), they are a great early to mid '70's prog band who has their share of fame and glory 'till their last concert of them in 1976 when they disbanded.