GALLEONS OF PASSION

In fact this is the most complete and most symphonic album by Dutch band Finch from the Hague. Unfortunately there had been this dramatic turn of the tide in which Punk rock flushed away all good music without having been carefully listened to. This appeared to be fatal for a quality band like Finch and "The Galleons Of Passion" sadly sunk away in an ocean of musical oblivion. True progfans however should certainly check out this album, because it shows Finch at their best. The keyboard sounds chosen by Ad Wammes have a fuller and richer sound, so much adored by progrock lovers and what should I say: the guitar playing by Joop van Nimwegen is simply superb. For those who need seduction by the famous Rickenbacker stereo bass sound, won't get disappointed by the solid bass playing of Dutch grand old man of rock Peter Vink. As always with Finch, the album is completely instrumental. This time the cross-over influences of jazz-rock/Canterbury are less. This is an accessable very harmonic sounding album, that can easily compete with the best Camel or Focus. The themes are all more outspoken than on their previous two albums and I should almost call this one a neglected masterpiece. Somehow all went wrong with this album. When it was released it was bon ton to put it away as rubbish. Later critics would endlessly repeat these judgements without really listening, which is a pity because there is so much to enjoy on Galleons of Passion and so many proglovers will be scared off by these unjustified negative words. This is my favorite Finch album and I think it will please many symphonic proglovers, so I think 5 stars are well deserved.

Erik de Beer.