RADAVIQUE

Radavique were a melodic rock formation who made an EP and later this LP in the early 80's and performed as a live band in the mid-70's. The line-up has changed over the years, going from being a sextet to a quintet to a quartet and back to a quintet again when they created B-Sides. Their music is driven by quirky keyboard play by so-called 'Keyboard Wizard' Jan Koehoorn and quite high-pitched vocals from in total three different vocalists, and it sounds like mostly average symphonic rock in the style of later period Supertramp, later period Yes and even a little like A-Ha. This album is not at all unique, with a pretty basic sound, but the songs are catchy, melodic rock of good quality.

The first song is 'Come To'.This is really just an intro of 35 seconds with a heavy, epic sound and multiple keyboards.

'Deep As It Burns' is the first real song and it instantly sets the tone for the rest of the album. A catchy rock song with some freak-out keyboard parts and even a small guitar solo. It's not a brilliant song and should be of very little interest for a prog fan.

'Trance And Lose' is another typical 80's pop song with sensitive vocals and a lot of synthesizers. The chorus is very nice.

'All And Only' is faster and more enjoyable. There is also a lot of soloing guitar. The sound has more of a Marillion influence, and it's surely one of the reasons for the addition of this band into Neo-Prog.

'Pearls Of The Dawn' starts of with Synthesizers, a bass rhythm and acoustic guitar. When the guitar fades out, the vocals kick in with grand background vocals. This certainly one of the best songs, and also true Neo-Prog.

'Reasons' sounds like it could have fit in Rush' 2112. It's a good, short rock song with some longer instrumental parts as well.

'Besides' is the title song(sort of). It's just under two minutes and it consists only of the keyboards of Jan Koehoorn and some vocals. The title is probably chosen because side B starts after this song.

This side starts with 'Moral Machine'. This a pretty cheesy rock song in the style of early Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. It contains an instrumental section in 9/8 rhythm.

'I Will - I Hear' starts of calm keyboard solo part and later some vocals too. Around half-way the bass kicks in, and a minute later the keyboards return to end this small ballad.

'Hiding Games' brings back the typical 80's sound with the addition of a view odd rhythms and some jazzy synth solos. Another strong piece.

'Key Horns' is just a funky keyboard solo by Jan Koehoorn.

'Paris' is partially a reprise of 'Come To', only this one is made into a good balanced rock song. Certainly a highlight of the album.

The final and longest(by 5 seconds) song is the ballad 'Falling Hope'. A slow, optimistic song with some nice guitar parts.

Over all, B-Sides is not much more than an 80's pop album with some progressive and symphonic elements, and therefore I can't give it more than 2,5 stars, rounded up. It might be of interest to a Neo-Prog fan, a fan of the 80's symph-rock scene or inhabitants of Enkhuizen. Otherwise, this is no more than a collection of fun, easy music.

PS: This album is not really a collection of B-sides of singles, the title is more of a parody.

This single seems to have been made mostly for commercial reasons and has nothing to do with the band's early and reputedly Symphonic Rock sound.''Verhalen'' is a smooth Synth Rock track with very sensitive vocals, a good atmosphere and a mediocre synth solo at the end but featuring a simplistic song structure and total lack of dynamics in general.While ''Verhalen'' is sung in Dutch, the following ''The castle'' is sung in English and follows more or less the same vein.It is definitely more poppy than ''Verhalen'' with an awful chorus, even more limited synth drives and a guitar than you can hardly listen, but even if you do it has almost nothing interesting to offer.Pretty bad piece.

This is definitely a vinyl single only for collectors.Below average, uninspired and far from progressive 80's Synth Rock, which fell into obscurity for more than evident reasons.Not recommended.