THE DIFFICULT SECOND

With a very telling title, here comes Etcetera sophomore release. This Danish foursome is not very well known but should be: they play some great 70´s influenced music that does not sound dated. In fact, the album starts very well, with the 17 minute suite Trespasser: terrific keyboards runs all over it (Hammond, electric piano, moog..) and some fantastic bass and guitar parts. It reminded me of the early Flower Kings, even if the Genesis influence is more prominent here.

Then they complete change the style with the totally folk The Hunter. Good, but maybe a little too folky and derivative for my taste. The same thing happens with the Jethro Tull-like Frosty Days (it´s ok, but almost to the point of being a rip off JT around the time of Stormwatcher). The symphonic prog returns with the instrumental Suite no. 1 for 4 piece rock band (another title that tells it all!). Very good one by the way, with again some fine 70´s influenced electric piano, nice electric guitar lines and great bass solo at the last part. The CD finishes with another major change of style, this time with the jazz-rock fusion of Erractic Behaviour (another instrumental piece).

In the end The Difficult Second proves only that the band is still trying to find their personal sound. Even if the band has more than capable musicians and the right influences, they could not deliver a CD that has a coherent whole. Each track gives the impression of being recorded by a different group of musicians. The potential is there and the very fine two tracks are proof of that. I´m looking forward to hear their latter releases and see if they developed into something of their own. Final rating: something between 3 and 3,5 stars.

In 1989 another line-up wind breezed for Etcetera, but this time it was for good.Carvalho was joined by drummer Jens Nyholm, who replaced Johnnie McCoy, and bassist Anders Kjaerulff, an original member of the group, with whom he spent a respectable number of years.With Michael Munch-Hansen (also part of the first line-up) guesting on vocals, the trio recorded a new demo in February 1990, which was reworked and re-released by Carvalho in 1998 upon request under the name ''The difficult second''.

It opens with the nice 17-min. epic ''Trespasser'',which starts as a KING CRIMSON-like track with smooth vocals,while a grandiose and large middle section follows,dominated by nice Hammond organ and moog synth leads supported by almost sounther-rock guitars (!) and the end contains some ROBERT FRIPP-like guitar work.''The hunter'' and ''Frosty days'' follow,two decent ballads with a mellow atmosphere and lots of acoustic stuff.You'll be reminded of GENESIS on ''Suite no.1 for four piece rock band'' and its fantastic melodicism,characterized by the baroque influences of the electric piano and the organ,which bring TONY BANKS to mind, and the STEVE HACKETT-like sensitive guitar lines,both electric and acoustic.The closer ''Erratic behavior'' is another KING CRIMSON-influenced track with complicated guitar work,awesome bass on the front, distinctive keys and relatively complex drumming with jazzy influences.A nice one to close the demo.

Regarding that in 1998 ETCETERA were already a band with ten years of history and experience,it is reasonable this effort to contain lots of great moments.Much recommended,especially to vintage-prog fans!