IN THIS LIFE

"In This Life" is THINKING PLAGUE's third album. Besides 7 new songs it also contains 2 old songs: a re-mix of "Moonsongs", released in it's originally version on an LP with the same name in 1987, and a re-mastering of "Possessed", originally released on Thinking Plague's debut LP "a Thinking Plague" in 1984. Tree of the musicians on this CD has been replaced between this CD and their most recent CD "In Extremis" (1998). Gone are Susanne Lewis (voice, guitar), Maria Moran (bass, guitar) and Lawrence Haugseth (clarinet), and the new ones are David Kerman (drums, percussion), Deborah Perry (voice) and David Willey (bass guitar, accordian). In my review of "In Extremis" I mentioned that THINKING PLAGUE had similarities to bands such as MAGMA, ESKATON and YES. This album has the same similarities and I can also add some KING CRIMSON to the reference. There's a lot of experimental freshness, musical geniality and craziness and you can listen to it repeatedly and always hearing new things. I also like the surreal cover painting by THINKING PLAGUE member Susanne Lewis. It really captures the spirit of their music. "In This Life" is close to the masterpiece "In Extremis" and I strongly recommend them both, but only if you want something different and if you're an adventurer in progressive rock. Because it isn't easy listening!