FOREIGN SKIES

Many years ago I bought this album during my annual 'progrock pilgrimages' to Cologne (Germany) in the known record-store Saturn, one of the largest in Europe. I did this mainly because of the back cover picture featuring two keyboard players, in my opinion this would guarantee great symphonic rock. Well, it did! 1 - Why don't we fear 4.04

This piece starts with pleasant vocals and sparkling piano runs, followed by bombastic eruptions featuring a lush, modern (duo) keyboard sound and powerful electric guitar. The final part contains good duo-electric guitar, culminating in a great build-up guitar solo, very moving and slowly fading away. 2 - Harlequin 3.34

The rhythm is up-tempo delivering a tight and strong rhythm-section, a mellow part with twanging guitars (mid-Genesis echoes) and a percussive keyboard solo. 3 - More than a nightmare 5.47

First a slow rhythm with emotional vocals and warm piano work, then an accellaration with a mid-tempo, inspired vocals, propulsive guitar riffs and a tight rhythm-section. The harmony between the instruments is wonderful and it sounds very pleasant and melodic, featuring some wonderful keyboard eruptions including a short solo and orchestral layers. 4 - Lady 3.37

This one has a mellow climate with delicate piano and fine interplay between sensitive electric guitar and piano and also quick synthesizer flights, the duo-keyboardplay gives the music a very lush sound. 5 - Sweet childhood 6.06

One of the highlights delivering a moving atmosphere with melancholical vocals and wonderful duo-keyboard play. 6 - Nightracer 2.23

This song starts with sensational synthesizer flights, a propulsive up-tempo beat and an applauding crowd, creating a live atmoshpere. Then lots of fluent shifting moods and again sensational synthesizer flights. 7 - Circle's edge 7.10

My favorite track because of the compelling climate featuring great interplay and tension between the lush keyboard sound and the fiery and sensitive electric guitars, culminating in a bombastic eruption with Minimoog-like runs and a choir-Mellotron sound. Halfway we hear pleasant vocals and sparkling piano arpeggio's, very warm. Again Minimoog-like flights and great interplay between the instruments, this is Circle at its symphonic peak! 8 - It's not easy 4.43

A wonderful ballad featuring sensitive, very romantic vocals and fine piano along a warm bass sound. The second part delivers a powerful saxophone solo. 9 - I believe 5.06

After an intro with delicate piano and then bombastic choir-Mellotron, an up-tempo rhythm follows with obvious religious lyrics, the climates shifts from mellow to bombastic with Minimoog-like runs and choir-Mellotron waves. 10 - Beneath a foreign sky 5.07

This track delivers wonderful changing climates, from mellow with twanging guitars and warm vocals to bombastic eruptions with delicate guitar and keyboards and in the end a sensitive electric guitar solo 11 - Final step 2.54

A dynamic final song that delivers a mid-tempo rhythm with lush duo-keyboards including flashy synthesizer flights

I won't say this is a memorable or original album but it sounds so warm and tasteful, this is very pleasant, modern sounding progrock. The warm vocals, inventive duo keyboards and - guitars give this album an extra dimension. If you try Google, you will find it for a decent price with some luck! By the way, thanks to Andrea and Peter for their nice words!