FLAMBOROUGH HEAD

What I don't have a problem with is the instrumental and melodic aspect of the compositions in general. That is absolutely of the highest quality with this band, also on this album. But I do have a bit of a problem with the lyrics at moments. They sound very cliché and I can see the words coming at miles distance. Maybe it's not easy for a Dutch band to write original lyrics in English and maybe I'm making too much of a big deal out of it, but it just annoys me a bit.

So some positive and negative aspects here but surveying the whole thing the positive prevails in the end. The musicianship is marvellous (flute and other wind contributions !) and the melodic compositions are great and inventive and deserve much respect. I'm a bit ambivalent about Margriet's voice. On itself it's a great voice but again here my personal feel for it is just not quite there. Hard to explain sometimes but it is what it is, can't help it. But again, the positive aspects are so strong the balance is turning to the good side and I will give four in the end (3,75). Also because I have a strong feeling many progfans will enjoy this album.

4(+), easy album to listening, it's opposite side of death metal, this one will be maybe hard to notice, but if you listen closely, you'll be rewarded. Anyway, more volume needed.

4(+) for somehow worse than "One For the Crow".

And interesting sound of main vocalist. As she's not native speaker, her singing gets nice accent, which is not annoying at all. No no, it's refreshing. Same as with entire album, full of symphonic rock. No, only thing which sounds neo-proggy here is piano. Well, grandly spoken, but still, I think that this band has more neo albums, which took them to this genre classification. This is not death metal, this is its opposite. Purpose of this album is to please (hehe, can be reason, why not after all, after long day at work, you could use some good, beautiful music.

Don't expect anything, and by anything I mean really nothing, dissonant, unpleasant, fear bringing and brown trousers making. Of course, a lot of bands are trying to reach this goal, ultimate symphonic album, melody over fear (lack of better words, I depleted them in previous sentence). I know that some people don't like melody and will lower rating to these (actually, I'm not targeting anyone, but statistic science is bi*ch, somebody would always have to be it). I don't do this kind of rating, or system of reviewing. I rate by my ears and brain, it's nice connection which works most of the time.

Many tried to do perfect, melodic album. But almost no one was able to hold melody line through entire album, I mean all the time, without losing quality (it's hard to have melodic things without other ones, like calm interludes, dissonant additions, to enlarge it all). And these are not some cheap ones, those that you heard (again, my usual pattern of 3TH words, "these","those"&"that", sometimes I also add "than" and "then", that would be completely ridiculous) many times.

5(+) for this unique gem, unkonwn symphonic album, which will be remembered a lot (by me). Every genre has its far sides, extremes if you please.

As soon as I heard their new CD I knew it would take some spins to get used to it. The band´s sound is becoming more and more complex since the new millenium started. It is still quite melodic and accessible for many ears, I guess, but their elaborated, subtle arrangements shows a fine tapestry of intricated, well crafted tunes that grows on you with each listening. Edo Spanninga´s keyboards lines and the band in general seem to be influenced by his side project Trion: half of the tracklist is composed solely by instrumentals. The strong use of the Hammond organ, Margriet Boomsma´s flute (more proeminent than ever) and the very fine guitar solos often reminded me of Focus in their 70´s heyday. Margriet´s slightly jazzy vocals are a bit underused but are highly effective when they appear.

As usual Flamborough Head keeps the high standards: there are no fillers, each track a gem on itself, but the album highlight is doubtless the epic, 19 minute, title track. Never have they sounded so symphonic, elaborated and bold: starting with a unsual keyboard line, followed by a slow section with recorder and mellotron, it goes through many intrumental moods and changes, gives us some of the CDs best´and more emotional vocals and finishes with climatic guitar and keys interplay. After all those years the band shows what a tigh group of skilled musicians can do when faced with some strong songwriting. They make complex music disguised as simple, like only the great ones know how to deliver in the right doses.

My final rating was something very difficult to decide: it is hard to label it as a classic or essential masterpiece in such a short time after its release, especially when compared to the band´s already brilliant discography On the other hand I cannot close my eyes (or ears) to its sheer quality. Between a 4,5 and 5 star rating, I´ll round it up to 5. Highly recommended

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD (named after a promontory in England's Yorkshire coast) exist since the early 90's due to the love of keyboardist Edo Spanninga for classic progressive rock.After some line-up changes the band released an eponymous cassette in 1994,which received good reviews,and led to their debut ''Unspoken whisper'' in 1997.This is a typical album of the Dutch neo progressive scene (if this term can be considered as correct) with heavy emphasis on melody and atmosphere.Main influences are coming from bands like PINK FLOYD (lots of atmospheric piano parts and soaring guitars) and PENDRAGON (nice keyboard/guitar driven melodies),while the vocals are clear,non-accented and very warm.I also consider as a plus the very strong production,which finally makes ''Unspoken whisper'' a very strong debut and gave FLAMBOROUGH HEAD a ticket of a long journey in the world of progressive rock.A recommended album with both neo and symphonic leanings.

For most of the album they prove they are as good on stage as they are on studio. In fact sometimes they are so precise you´d think you´re actually hearing a sutdio recording that some applause were added latter. It´s amazing how they manage such cirurgical reproduction live. And to be frank, some songs did get better live, with some extra punch and dynamics, like Limestock Rock, Silent Stranger and Captive Of Fate. Bassist Marcel Derix is more prominent here than on records with some great bass runs and the ever creative Spanninga adds some new colors on his already broad pallete of keyboards sounds.

Overall the only negative aspect of the album is the lack of earlier tracks, most of the songs are drawn from their two later albums. Only Garden Of Dreams was chose from their second album, and Margriet Boomsma voice (plus added flute) works really fine on that one, making one wonders how interesting it would be if she sang more of their excellent, 90´s stuff like Xymphonia or Schoolyard Fantasy. Oh, well, I guess you can´t always get what you wanted. Maybe someday. Production and sound are also very good.

Live In Budapest is the proof that Flamborough Head is nowadays one of the best prog bands around. A brilliant mix of melody, great technique and superb musicanship put together to work with inspiration and fine songwriting. A tight band, where everything and everyone work for the music. Like early Genesis, all falls into place beautifully with no ego battles nor unnecessary noodling. Their music is bigger than the sum of its parts.

Highly recommended for any prog fan. 4,5 stars.

Three of the songs on this 6 song demo have already been released on the first two albums and those are Childscream, Unspoken whisper and Bridge to the promised land. The other three appear to be demotracks from around 1994 and then we are talking about Corrugated road, Running on empty and Suicide which is my favourite track of the 6 by the way despite the sinister title.

In fact I don't have to much to say about this album because the tracks are not easy to discuss and define. If I take my usual reviewing marks (vocals, instrumental aspect and compositions) I'd say the vocals are not my favourite (fortunately Margriet Boomsma is the lead singer since this century), the instrumental handling is a lot better and the compositions are good but not mindblowing. The only other important aspect is resemblances to other progbands and only Final Conflict and Saga (Unspoken Whisper !) come to mind but that's only slight resemblance. So instead reviewing it thoroughly myself I will tell something about the background of this release. In the booklet I read this material is from 1994 (like I said) and it got them going apparently because it also says Cyclops discovered them thanks to the demo and offered them a contract. They admit themselves that the sound quality is mediocre (true) but that was because it was not meant to be released in the first place. It was 6 or 7 years later that they decided to do that anyway. Nevertheless they got great response out of it and were even awarded in 1998 as best new band (CRS) after the release of their first real album but indirectly it was all thanks to this demo so that proves the value of first careful steps in music. Flamborough Head were even invited abroad to do gigs it appears so that must have been very satisfying. To conclude it was after their second successful album they decided together with cyclops to release an album of the demo because of increasing demands for it. (I recognize this, if you like a band a lot you always want to know how they actually started and if there was already something there before the first real album).

I have no other albums of Flamborough Head (yet), the only other track I know was the one of Cyclops sampler no.5 (Limestone Rock) and I really like that one so I will check out more. This one is their real beginning, an album with ups and downs, not bad at all but also not groundbreaking either.

It flows nicely with another mellow "House Of Cards" (9:16) through long sustain keyboard work at opening part augmented with guitar. The break with piano touch combined with guitar riffs and soaring organ make it beautiful, musically. Well. I recommend you to play the music LOUD so that you can get great soundscape and subtleties of the music. I bet most people who claim themselves as neo prog fans would love this song. The melody is quite catchy especially combined with nice piano work.

I guess it's an accident that the title is the same with the Flower Kings' "Garden Of Dreams" (12:35) which brings the music in higher tone with its faster tempo music blended nicely with pulsating keyboard work and great guitar. And the next track title is the same with Marillion's "Assassin" (9:07) but the music style is totally different. It starts with a sound of clavinet followed with voice line using PA system. "Impulse" (11:17) has a richer composition and more energy and drive. The remaining two tracks " Bridge To The Promised Land" (6:37) and "Mind-sculpture" (7:58) are all keyboard-drenched compositions which have nice melody and flow.

Overall, this is another good album Dutch neo progressive band with stunning keyboard solo as well as guitar solo. Fans of neo progressive music would love this album. I'd rather enjoying bands with clear direction like Flamborough Head than latest album of Marillion "Somewhere Else" which, I think, is misdirected. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Well, I purchased this CD long time ago during those days that I started purchasing prog CDs because I though prog music was dead after Fish left Marillion. So, in 1998 I was introduced to the gentleman who run Cyclops label, Malcolm Parker. And during the year of 1998 to 2000 (I think) I bought some titles from his shop on the net. I was introduced to new bands that I never heard before like Sinkadus, Grey Lady Down, Mastermind, Landmarq, Land's End, Flamborough Head, etc. I was not that impressed with Flamborough Head because the music was too mellow for my ears. I knew that Flamborough Head was in the vein of noe progressive like Marillion, Pallas, IQ, Pendragon, etc. But, from the first spin I got, there was no such thing as the song with sufficient energy and drive that stimulated my emotion. So, I did not play this CD quite often and in fact I almost forget that I have this album in my collection. Last week, I started to spin again this CD.

If I look at the CD artwork and sleeve, it seems clear to me that this album was destined to be dark by the band. Due to the nature of the music which tends to be mellow and catchy, I consider this music is good to have a peace of mind condition for you regardless the main intent of this album for being dark. I can see in fact from the simple artwork that the cover has - a middle age lady in vintage fashion - and the sleeve which creates a dark nuance. The great thing is that the band member photographs were taken when they were child - around 3 to 5 years old, I think.

The music flows nicely in a very slow tempo. Hmmm .. I don't know how challenging the job of drummer and bass guitar for music as mellow as this one? If I am a drummer playing this music, I will be death definitely man .. no challenge at all! I remember how frustrated Mike Portnoy saying in his interview in "Dark Side of The Moon" DVD expressing how boring he was doing a drumwork for "Us and Them". Sorry to say, the songs like Flamborough Head do not give a challenge for drummer and bass guitar - it's too slow man.

What is so interesting about the music is the guitar solo, catchy melody, and keyboard solo. The rest is not something very challenging we need to explore. To make things into perpective, take your IQ "Ever" CD and spin the opening track "The Darkest Hour" where you can find excellent challenge for Paul Cook to perform his drumming. Or you may find Marillion's "He Knows You Know" there is obviously dynamic drumming. But with this album of Flamborough Head, you can hear that the drumming (and bass guitar) is so flat.

Almost all songs contained here in this album are good to enjoy. You can have good guitar work through "Schoolyard Fantasy" (8:07), "Wolves At War" (4:53) and a bit of ballad style with "Childscream" (7:19). "Unspoken Whisper" (10:23) starts wonderfully with catchy piano work and nice melody. Again, you can hear excellent guitar solo as the music unfolds. "Xymphonia" (10:06) has a significant influence of classical music. "Heroes" (7:53) concludes the album with symphonic style.

Overall, this is a collection of keyboard-based songs with stunning guitar solo. It depends of your expectation. If you expect something energetic, I don't think you can get it from here. But if you like Floydian guitar style - you might enjoy this album .. with peace of mind. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW