PETER PANKA'S JANE: VOICES

FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM!!

In the second half of the Seventies I discovered a record shop that sold German progressive rock/Krautrock in my hometown The Hague, the owner was Bob De Jong, drummer of Dutch prog band Pythagoras featuring Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon fame on their second album. Soon I bought all albums from Eloy, Grobschnitt, Novalis, Ramses and ... Jane. Their music is not really in the vein of more symphonic rock sounding German prog like Grobschnitt or Novalis but I had no problems with the vocals that contains a strong German accent and I have always loved their 'progressive bluesrock', loaded with Hammond organ and fiery guitar like on their live double album Live At Home! A few years ago Jane was re-united featuring three members (ncluding drummer/singer Peter Panka) of the original lin-up as on their debut album entitled Together. They released the CD Genuine and played on the festival The German Krautrock Meeting featuring bands like Birth Control and Amon Duul II (released on a 2-DVD). So I was very curious to their current sound.

Well, Jane still sounds very distinctive but obviously more polished and modern with hints from Dire Straits their poprock. The 12 compositions are tastefulfly aaranged with strong guitar soli (from sensitive to raw and fiery), a pleasant colouring by the keyboards and climates that shift from dreamy or compelling to mid-tempo and bombastic. My favorites on this CD are the fluent Much Too Much (propulsive guitar riffs like ZZ Top), the dreamy Dawn (wonderful keyboards intro, then a compelling climate and finally a sensitive guitar solo), rock and roll in Words (fiery guitar solo), the beautiful Welcome To The Club (sof organ waves, warm voals and delicate work on guitar and synthesizers) and teh instrumental final track Romance (soaring keyboards, then compelling and bombastic with a sensitive electric guitar solo).

Don't expect a Jane sound similar to the Seventies, this current line-up delivers modern and tasteful rock with a fine progressive touch.

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