ALIVE

This is one of those few live albums that justify their money's worth. And how! This double album does not only serve as a 'best of Flairck' collection but also as a very best of performances! The sound is crystal clear as on their studio albums, the playing impeccable and the intensity and dynamics of the songs are pushed to their absolute limits.

I'll try a short description of their sound since most of you possibly are not familiar with this Dutch acoustic folk prog band. Flairck usually consists of 4 classically trained musicians that play long and intricate instrumental suites based on European and Eastern folk music. The instrumentation has a firm basis of (virtuosic) acoustic guitar and acoustic bass guitar. The main melodic instruments are the violin and a range of flutes you sure didn't know existed. They bring the typical mix of invigorating energy with the melancholic mood that makes most folk music so attractive. I find it hard to come up with bands that sound like them. The acoustic guitar and flute combination doesn't stray too far from Jethro Tull in an acoustic moment. But that is not doing them full justice.

Just try to pick up this double CD because there's not a second of the 2 hours of music collected here that you would want to be different.

A truly best of by Flairck.

There is no points of releasing a greatest hits album when you get your band together and give it all in a live setting. In particular; when you take a long and hard look at your impressive long career and choose the best of the best to play that evening/those evenings. Then you fire up the band and tape the result.

The result is given. Flairck has some great albums and songs under their belts in additions to some not-so-greats and one turkey. Well, that's the world according to me and it is therefore a highly subjective opinion. But I really value this band and give many thanx to ProgArchives for pointing me in their direction.

There is not much point of even describing this music. The music is like symphonic prog with all the electric instruments removed and a solid dosage of folk/gypsy music added. The music appeals to a wide variety of prog rock fans. The second CD includes the best music here and the final three tracks is exceptional superb. But before that, we have been taken through some truly great music, performed by a band at their best.

This double album is a superb introduction to this exceptional band and comes highly recommended.

4 stars