MIND THE SOUP

This Finnish prog band deserves more attention as I'm sure many friends of energetic and uplifting Eclectic Prog would find their music interesting. Apps79's review from 2011 offers the basic information, I'll concentrate on the track-by-track approach. The opener is a riff-centred, hard rocking song with some resemblance to modern US prog. 'Beauty Contest' puts on a higher gear in the breath-taking playfulness, and one can get many associations from Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Jethro Tull, all in about three minutes.

High tempo song 'Crazy Madness' is acoustically oriented and has nice vocal harmonies, featuring also a guest appearance of Didgeridoo. It's followed by an instrumental joyride titled 'Extended Massive Orgasm' centred on electric guitar. Towards the end also organ sticks out. The next track is again very US-style, boogie-flavoured prog full of nice arranging details and tempo changes. Flute is a great bonus.

'Snowfall' starts in acalm, acoustic manner, but the sensitivity of singer-songwriter sort of mainstream rock is accompanied by edgier elements. 'Showpiece' mixes laid-back groove with energetic hard rock, and rollicking instrumental 'Stumbling Gigolos' has some wordless vocal harmonies. This far I have managed to avoid mentioning GENTLE GIANT, but 'A Prophet's Daydream' is such a great piece of multi-layered Eclectic Prog that Jeavestone must have a big appreciation to those British pioneers too, not just being influenced by modern, mainly American successors of the style.

A very strong debut, but perhaps too packed up with hectic rock drive for its own good. A little more eye on sophisticated details and to the emotional side of music would have turned this album into something very impressive.