SONG OF THE MARCHING CHILDREN

O.K., there are at least as many moments on this cd where you think you are listening to another Dutch band - Focus; but more often than not, it is the great English band Renaissance that will spring to mind, especially because of the very beautiful Jerney Kaagman's reminiscent vocals. (At times, she also sounds a lot like Mariska Veres from the band Shocking Blue!) Earth and Fire's "Song of the Marching Children" is a very good album, with generous use of the organ, but some nice mellotron as well (in the title track in particular). The music is very warm and melodic, with ever-changing moods. The original album was somewhat short, but with 3 bonus tracks now included (and they're very good as well), this is a cd of acceptable duration (45 minutes). Definitely an essential album from the Dutch prog arena, along with their follow-up "Atlantis". After that, they began to lose their progressive touch... Start with this one.