KAYAK
Crossover Prog • Netherlands
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Founded in 1972 in Hilversum, Netherlands - Disbanded in 1982 - Reformed in 1999 (still active in 2017)
KAYAK is a Dutch band, originating from the early seventies. The band began as a symphonic progressive rock act with an emphasis in songwriting, but from 1977 on KAYAK changed direction moving into crossover territories. KAYAK revived in the 21st century, recording new albums and touring again.
The original line-up of KAYAK was quite strange. Most members were trained musicians at the conservatoriums of Holland. Max WERNER was a professional drummer that had to sing and Pim KOOPMAN was a professional piano-player that had to play the drums (which actually was his true love). Luckily Ton SCHERPZEEL was able to play on the keyboards, which was his profession. Later on, from 1977, Pim KOOPMAN left the band and Max WERNER became the drummer. A long-time fan, Edward REEKERS became the new vocalist.
Their debut "See See The Sun" (1973) is often seen as their biggest contribution to the symphonic prog genre. Their mix of naïve, but very melodic symphonic songs is attractive and evokes early GENESIS, YES and some have mentioned SUPERTRAMP (which I never fully understood). KAYAK has two main composers, Ton SCHERPENZEEL and Pim KOOPMAN. The typical classical influenced style of SCHERPENZEEL remained recognizable throughout KAYAK's long career. The vocals of Max WERNER ('73-'77) are very distinctive because of his high-pitched voice that has a powerful strength-through-weakness appeal. KAYAK used many of the recognizable symphonic prog key-instruments, such as Moog and Mellotron. KAYAK's second album in 1974 was a good continuation of KAYAK's melodic/symphonic prog style, but it had a bigger focus on long compositions which was profitable for the music. "Royal Bed Bouncer" (1975) continued this course, whilst "The Last Encore" (1976) has a distinctive atmosphere with lots of great progressive songs that were perhaps the most original the band created in their progressive period. The first four albums of KAYAK are recommended to fans of the symphonic progressive rock genre.
After this the band wanted to have better sales and changed direction in to pop-territories with "Starlight Dancer" (1977), which only had the title track as a progressive song. The 1979 album "Phantom of the Night" became the biggest hit in the charts, but in the beginning of the eighties they disbanded after making their last progressive effort; the 1981 semi-prog...read more
KAYAK forum topics / tours, shows & news
- Kayak - Cleopatra The Crown Of Isis (0 replies)
- New concept album from Kayak in 2013: Cleopatra (10 replies)
- New Kayak album in September 2011 (2 replies)
- New Kayak album: "Letters from Utopia" coming (3 replies)
- Kayak Nostradamus coming soon (0 replies)
KAYAK Videos (YouTube and more)
Showing only random 3 | Show all KAYAK videos (2) | Search and add more videos to KAYAK
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Kayak Live medley: Lyrics/Wintertime/Mammoth/See,see the Sun
(5 min 26 sec )Added by snkefinger
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KAYAK / WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
(4 min 41 sec )Added by snkefinger
Buy KAYAK Music
![]() | Royal Bed Bouncer / Kayak Remastered ESOTERIC 2012 | $10.88 $10.87 (used) |
![]() | Seventeen Imports 2018 | $13.96 $15.06 (used) |
![]() | See See The Sun / Kayak Remastered ESOTERIC 2018 | $11.40 $10.95 (used) |
![]() | See See the Sun/Kayak Imports 2015 | $15.94 |
![]() | Starlight Dancer / Phantom of the Night Universal Int'l 2003 | $69.99 $25.99 (used) |
![]() | Seventeen Imports 2018 | $42.91 $57.02 (used) |
![]() | Anniversary Box Imports 2009 | $35.33 $55.99 (used) |
![]() | Merlin-Bard of the Unseen Kayak 2003 | $18.95 $15.98 (used) |
![]() | Nostradamus: The Fate of Man Smh Records Nl 2005 | $32.66 (used) |

More places to buy KAYAK music online
- DOUG LARSON IMPORTS — Buy prog rock music and rarities (Free shipping on orders over 10 cds)
- AmazonMP3: Search for KAYAK DRM-Free MP3 Downloads @ Amazon.com MP3
- Try Amazon Prime Music (30-day free trial)
KAYAK discography
Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

KAYAK top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
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KAYAK Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
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KAYAK Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)
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KAYAK Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
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KAYAK Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)
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KAYAK Reviews
Showing last 10 reviews only
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Rune2000
Special Collaborator Prog Metal Team

My first encounter with Kayak occurred just a few months ago when I stumbled upon a video trailer for Seventeen on InsideOutMusicTV YouTube channel. I have heard of Kayak before but somehow assumed that they were similar to their countrymen Golden Earring and thus was nothing that would interest me. The music that I've heard in the trailer really sparked my interest due to the strong melodies, stellar keyboard work from Kayak veteran Ton Scherpenzeel and the interesting band lineup that featured Kristoffer Gildenlöw (ex-Pain of Salvation, For All We Know) on bass and Collin Leijenaar (ex-Neal Morse) on drums/percussion. The album was due in early 2018 and I was quite interested in hearing more of the material. I went on Spotify and found three singles All that I Want, Feathers and Tar and the shorter version of La Peregrina. All that I Want was easily the least progressive of the bunch but featured strong verse and chorus that made it enjoyable for me. Feathers and Tar and La Peregrina completely stole the show for me. Both of the songs begin with very melodic guitar style of Marcel Singor and he is, together with Ton Scherpenzeel, the one that has the most time in the spotlight during the album's duration. Singor really made an impression on me and I'm interested in hearing more of his other work in the future.
There was just no way that I could let this album pass me by so I did the obvious and ordered the 2-CD edition of the album from Kayak's website. Once I got the album, I must have played it at least a dozen times without every getting tired of the material. Once the opening track Somebody starts playing there's just no way for me to stop the album from going all the way to the last track To An End. Beside the shorter songs and interludes like X Marks The Spot and Ripples On The Water (featuring Andy Latimer on guitar), there are three centerpieces in the form of La Peregrina, Walk Through Fire and Cracks . I'd say that La Peregrina is easily my favorite out of the three and I really enjoy it musically and contextually (story about the famous pearl La Peregrina throughout different eras with reflections on immortality of objects and the mortality of men who think that they can own the pearl). This 12 minute opus feels much shorter than its playtime might imply and I still haven't gotten tired of this composition and all of its twists and turns. Walk Through Fire is probably the composition that has grown on me the most over time. At first, I didn't think much about the lyrics and the melodies but it did sort of fall into place eventually and Walk Through Fire is definitely a great piece of music that most prog fans will enjoy. Cracks is the last of the three longer compositions on Seventeen and is definitely my least favorite. I feel that the structure of this composition is all over the place and it lacks the melodic punch that Ton Scherpenzeel is usually known for with his material.
Even though we're still in the beginning of the year, I'm very certain that Seventeen will be one of my top 10 favorite albums that I will take with me from 2018. Not only does the album deliver in its centerpieces but there are just so many great moments spread out all over this album that makes for a great overall experience!
***** star songs: Somebody (3:04) La Peregrina (11:42) Falling (3:08) Feathers And Tar (3:14) God On Our Side (3:30)
**** star songs: Walk Through Fire (10:23) Ripples On The Water (3:40) All that I Want (3:47) X Marks The Spot (1:58) Love, Sail Away (3:12) To An End (3:32)
*** star songs: Cracks (8:50)
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by The Jester

In Seventeen, the band seems to be in great form, balance and inspiration, which is proven by the quality of the songs. Speaking about the band, I think that I should mention the participation of Andy Latimer of Camel as special guest, which is something important in my opinion. The album includes 12 songs and has a total running time of almost an hour. The 2 long - over 10 minutes ? songs that are included here can be characterized as the album's highlights. But if you ask me, the whole album is a highlight by itself. I have it for almost 2 weeks now and I keep listening to it on and on. It is a wonderful piece of work, and with every new listen I discover something more in it.
This is one of these albums that you listen from the beginning 'till the end, without feeling the need to press 'skip'. Every song has something to offer to the listener, from the simplest 3:00 minute long one, up to the far more complicated 'epics'.
But have in mind that, the album's general style can be characterised as Prog with Pop influences. Maybe the Hard-core Prog fans will not appreciate it that much. There are many short songs included here, soft and mellow, in the style of Supertramp let's say.
I am not going to mention the songs one by one; there is no need to do so. If you want my opinion, give this album a couple of listens, and decide by yourselves. For me, it is an excellent and very enjoyable album, and I'm perfectly happy with it! Although it is still very early, I'm pretty sure that, at the end of the year, it is going to be included in my annual top-10 album list for 2018. Album's highlights: Somebody, La Peregrina, Falling, Walk Through Fire, All that I Want, Love Sail Away, God on our Side, Cracks. My rating would be: 4.5 stars.
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by mitarai_panda

Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Matti
Prog Reviewer

'Lyrics' sounds rather sweet - I mean, actually really too sweet - as a highly melodic song with an emphasis on piano. It's not exactly sentimental or emotional, more like playful and witty. The fast-paced notes keep jumping up and down. I'm not fond of it, because of the zaccharine taste.
The B-sider 'Try to Write a Book' wasn't originally included on the album, but appears on the reissue of it. My initial reception was "What a silly little song with horrible singing", but it deserves a closer listen. It's only two minutes short and yet it manages to be quite progressive. It has some resemblance to the psychedelic side of The Beatles ('I Am the Walrus', etc.). It has a monotonously beating but funnily twisted rhythm pattern. Luckily it's not plain humour music, just mock-serious black humour and wit. In the end, this song is slightly more interesting than the sweet 'Lyrics'.
Two stars will do, without any speculation whether the single would be a valuable rarity if you saw it on sale (possibly so).
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Matti
Prog Reviewer

When the band was founded in 1972, Ton Scherzenpeel, Pim Koopman and Max Werner were young music students in Hilversum. After Cees van Leeuwen joined on bass, Scherzenpeel (who had studied double bass as his major) concentrated on keyboards. He and Koopman had been writing songs already for five years. Kayak signed a contract with EMI, and the group entered a proper recording studio for the very first time. "We were like kids in a toy store as we were testing what we could do with the 16-track equipment", Scherzenpeel recalls in the CD liner notes. According to him, See See the Sun is an album full of ideas, not all of them being worked to perfection. After two weeks' studio sessions the tapes were taken to Abbey Road studios for Alan Parsons to mix. Dark Side of the Moon had made Parsons a hot name, so this was clearly a calculated move from EMI in order to increase the international appeal.
The results may not be the most original prog of the time, but surely it's well produced and extremely convincing debut from young musicians. The opening track 'Reason for It All' has notable Yes flavours up to vocal harmonies and Wakemanesque harpsichord decoratings. Slightly oversugared song 'Lyrics' already hints at the later pop direction. Several compositions contain ambitious complexity without feeling very meaningful. Among my favourites is the lengthy and dreamy 'Lovely Luna', in which I sense a similarity in atmosphere to 'The Moon Is Down' by Gentle Giant. 'Ballet of the Cripple' is like a mixture of Mellotron-heavy Genesis and the more straight-forward Electric Light Orchestra. In the end they were at their most original on emotionally loaded songs such as 'Forever Is a Lonely Thought'.
The adventures in the British prog influences continued on the albums Kayak (1974) and Royal Bed Bouncer (1975), on which Ton Scherpenzeel's creative force was perhaps at its strongest. After fairly good The Last Encore (1976) there occurred some changes in both the line-up and musical style; the most commercial phase produced the albums Starlight Dancer (1977), Phantom of the Night (1979) and Periscope Life (1980). See See the Sun is warmly recommended for listeners of keyboard oriented light prog - and Supertramp, whose album Crime of the Century (1974) Kayak's bright sound has been compared to.
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Warthur
Prog Reviewer

Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Warthur
Prog Reviewer

Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
DamoXt7942
Forum & Site Admin Group Avant, Crossover & Neo Teams

The beginning of this Merlin theatre is superb ... started with a gorgeous music phrase of "Niniane", very extensive, brilliant hard-edged rock sounds and clear voices take off one after another. Always pleasant colourful world can be felt under this song. "Tintagel", a short piece but a quiet song Fantasia to brilliant piano plays, is another dream in this theatre ... what a solemn voice Edward has really. In the third track "The Sword In The Stone", heavy backing voices crystallized with strict, rigid rhythm sections' explosive play are beyond expression. The following "The King's Enchanter" is a tad danceable, enjoyable one along with slight eccentric rhythm yay.
"Niniane (Lady Of The Lake)" must be considered as their masterpiece. One of the most incredibly beautiful tracks I've listened to until now, and this excellence can give this album such a kaleidoscopic sound colour, I'm sure. Ton's keyboard storytelling and Johan's crying guitar shout outside in the middle of this track are indeed awesome. Cannot listen without tears. Very suitable for the last song on the A-Side.
Let me mention as follows: this soundtrack should be a fantastic mirror that can project the bright side and the dark one around a progressive rock combo, not only like Kayak but also like other ones drenched in pop / catchy wave in the latter music life. A pathos around the progressive rock scene can be felt, in a sense.
A splendid album nonetheless.
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

Now, the influences remain stable for Kayak, GENESIS and YES were the basic sources of inspirations, but this time the songwriting appears to a be a bit more accesible, focusing on vocal harmonies, elaborate melodies and striking choruses, flirting more and more with the emerging sound of SUPERTRAMP.So, in ''Kayak II'' the formula displayed follows a complex Symphonic Pop style and the band comes as the best retro equivalent to Swedish A.C.T., having a rich and convinving composing style, which ranges from poppy lines to symphonic orchestrations, filled with keyboard and piano interludes, interesting paces and joyful guitar plays.There are certain pieces that recall GENESIS' smoother and lyrical side, like the beautiful ballad ''Mountain too rough'' or the melodic ''Serenades'', but all pieces contain some serious musicianship with big time Mellotron dashes and organ runs.But it's not all about Symphonic Pop here.The long ''They get to know me'' is a pure Symphonic Rock opus with dramatic vocals and different segments, reminding of other North-European acts like FOCUS and DICE.Melancholic and haunting symphonicism, quirky synth drives and crying guitars complete a stunner in Kayak's discography.Or the 6-min. ''Trust in the machine'', which has a slight CAMEL touch circa ''Moonmadness'' with some jazzy orientations in the keyboard parts and some impressive Mellotron washes towards a grandiose outro.
Great Symphonic/Art/Pop Rock by Kayak.The greatest proof that poppy vibes cannot ruin a progressive album, on the contrary, this has to be one of most excellent and intelligent albums ever recorded by a Prog Rock group.Highly recommended.
Kayak Crossover Prog
Review by
Gatot
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

However, I like the inclusion of Nothingness right here in this compilation. This song has a very solid composition combining nice piano work and very good vocal harmony. The poppy song I. I Want you to be Mine (4:46) is actually good as well. Still my Heart cries for you (4:34) is very melodic and melancholic. While Starlight Dancer (5:03) is an excellent song with brilliant composition starting with something melodic at intro part followed with a blast of music that moves nicely from start to end. Irene (4:22) is a very good instrumental.
Overall it's a good compilation. Keep on proggin' ...!
Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW