FANCLUB CD 2005 - HARVEST

"Harvest Times" starts as a traditional TFK song. Full of melody and great guitar. This long song (just under ten minutes) could have sit as well on a traditional TFK album. Some weird "singing" exercises won't add anything to it. It shouldn't have been so long IMO.

"Echoes Of Dr. King" (over fifteen minutes) features some Manzarek (The Doors...) like keyboard sounds. At half time, it is just pure and boring experimentation. This composition (?) leads virtually nowhere. A long and classical piano passage, some jazzy guitar riffs, a grandiose symphonic part and back to the piano to finish ! Rather confusing...

An incredibly beautiful guitar-oriented instrumental track is my preferred song of this release. Sublime (really) melody, emotions at their heights. Symph prog all the way through : almost five minutes of splendid music. "The Crown & The Cross" would have deserved to make an official recording. Each TFK fan out there should try to hear this one. It is one of their sweetest song ever.

Complete change in direction with the fully jazzy "Siberian". Press next. "Brazilian Woman" is fully...Spanish oriented. Maybe a mistake in the title...Not too great (the track, not the mistake). TFK remains in the jazzy territories (almost piano-bar like) with the short "Dexter...". Somewhat dull and soporific.

TFK have decided to remain in the jazz territory for most of this album, apparently. "Memories..." is more structured. A bit repetitive but catchy. Still, not really fascinating...

I just hope that "Doorway..." will bring some fresh air. This long song is one of the few featuring lyrics (not too great, I'm afraid). Acoustic and mellowish mood. Probably an attempt to balance the overall jazz feeling with true symph prog but it is not really convincing. Almost pastoral and very childish. Even folkish (harmonica) ! The best moment last for about a minute while Roine will peform another fabulous guitar break. Again, melody at its best. But, frankly, was it necessary to extend this song to eleven minutes ?

Roine will also dispense a very intense guitar-oriented song during "King Of Grief". Nice finale and the second very good track.

As this album was released for fans, it should be regarded as such. Three nice songs lasting for less than twenty minutes could hardly turn this album into a masterpiece. Still, several passages are very poignant. Two stars.