THE PRINCE OF HEAVEN'S EYES

Actually, this was Fruupp's THIRD record. Their second was the equally phenomenal Seven Secrets, but for me The Prince of Heaven's Eyes is the peak album for the band. A bit of background information- were Fruupp not from strife and war torn Northern Ireland who escaped to England in the early 70s they would be one of the best British melodic progressive bands, but their being Irish makes them one of the best bands on an international, not specifically British level. That said, Fruupp despite occaisonally straying into Celtic influenced melodies and legends had a very English sound that changed by the time of this record. The first album Future Legends is rough and ready heavy progressive acid rock with lots of wild vocals and guitar soloing. Seven Secrets combines that with softer passages, and for The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes Fruupp are soft, wistful, sad, and dream-like for the whole album. Opening track "It's All Up Now" has some beautiful keyboard instrumentation and honey sweet, but not too sacharine vocals on top of floating melodies not unlike Selling England By The Pound period Genesis or Camel. "Prince Of Darkness" is more Genesis influenced prog with Fruupp's very own sound added- especially Peter Farrelly's voice- high, floating, quavery, otherworldly. The rest of the album takes the basic themes of these first two tracks and expands on them mightily well. "Annie Austere" is a great track full of driving guitars and expert drumming from Martin Foye. The lyrics to this song are half humourous making a welcome change from self-serious garbage such as England's horrible Garden Shed album- the worst pseudo prog record of all time! I only bring that up as Fruupp are the polar opposite of the band England, not the country England. Here the influence of early Genesis isn't copying, just an influence. All of Side Two is where the album really comes to life and this being a concept album it makes sense that like Asgard from England each song gets better and better until a great finale. Fans of heavier progressive rock would probably prefer the first two albums, but I'm gonna go with this along with those as an album and a band who should be remembered for creating rich, inventive, complex, melodic, smooth, and creative progressive rock with a trippy edge that for their entire career made them an overlooked classic. This is a really great album, and one that I completely love from start to finish.