TWEE EN TWINTIG OEUVRE CD BOX

Of these 22 albums, I only know two of them good enough to make do a proper review as fitting a title in PA's database. The music on this box is also a bit diverse. So in this case, I simply have to describe this music to you, review the box on value for money and then state if the music is good or bad on a general term. I will also tell you a bit about the packaging. So please hang in there..........

First of all; a bit about Flairck. There is an interview with Flairck I did with them. I refer you to this interview after you have read this review. But in short; Flairck have released albums since mid- 1970s and they are still touring this world. Several of their albums are best sellers both in their homeland Holland and in other territories.

Music wise, Flairck is listed as a prog folk band in PA. Yes, that is true. But I would also add that they are as influenced by classical music as they are influenced by folk music. Chamber music is probably the correct label on their music. All their music is in it's entirety based on acoustic instruments. Mostly tens of different types of flutes, a lot of acoustic guitars and some violins. There is not a single Moog, Hammond, bass or electric guitar in sight here. Forget rock and pop music. The term "rock'n'roll" can only be used on the foot tapping your legs will do when listening to their music. This because some of their music is pretty infectious jazzy. In other words; add jazz to the mix too. So what we get is chamber music with influences from prog folk and jazz. Pew !! Complicated ! It is my view that Flairck is one of the more original, if not the most original, band in the PA database. Music from Flairck need to be heard to be believed. Take my word for that.

The quality of the music is again down to each individual of us. I am yet to be convinced that Flairck is the best thing to happen to this world since man discovered fire and the joys of sliced bread. Frankly, their music is so far away from my daily slab of Genesis inspired mood driven prog that it is difficult to really like this music. I need to grow into their music. Which in my view is a multi-year project. But I am listening to their first albums Variaties op een Dame and Gevecht Met De Engel tonight and I really like them. So yes, I will eventually be turned around to Flairck's world and way of thinking. I just need time. So I give their music three and a half star.

And that brings us over to another thing about this box: Longviety. This box will probably stay close to my CD player until the end of my life. That means forty years or more. And during this time; I will give the 22 CDs here some spins now and then. I will discover new music. I will grow old and still like this box. I will sit in a rocking chair at my local retirement home (or PA's retirement home if the rumours are right) and still be listening to the CDs from this box. In other words; the longviety is as long as a man's life. Five stars for that.

Where are we again.......... Yes, the packaging of the box. It comes in a very nice box with all colours. The 22 CDs are packaged as 11 double CD. The original artworks are included. The original booklets on these 11 double CDs has been replaced with a four page booklet with the cover art work and track listings. That is a good solution because there is a 36 page book about Flairck included too. Unfortunate; only in Dutch. But I can live with this because the contents in this booklet can be found on their website........ in English and four other languages. So four and a half stars to the packaging.

The question of value for money.............. This box includes every Flairck album, with possible exception of Flairck 10. In other words, this is the complete Flairck. The price is laughable low. It is a bargain, no less. € 75 (€ 3/$ 4 each title if am not mistaken) for the box means you get twenty too albums for the price of six albums when taken into account what the Flairck albums is trading on Ebay and Amazon for. And I am referring to the lower end of the market here. Some of the albums here is also only available in this box due to being out of print. So I give this box five stars for the value of money.

So based on everything and with a very pretty box sitting next to me and Gevecht Met De Engel on my speakers, I would give this box 4 stars now and probably 5 stars when I am getting older.

4 stars