THE PRINCE OF HEAVEN'S EYES / MODERN MASQUERADES

This compilation combines Fruup's third and fourth albums on a single CD. The band offered pretty good value in LP terms, so in order to avoid the need for a second CD, one track from each had to be omitted. The sleeve notes reassuring state that "We are sure this will not detract from your listening enjoyment".

"The prince of heaven's eyes" is a concept album about a man's search for the end of the rainbow in Ireland. The album is a definite improvement on the preceding "Seven secrets", with far more life to it. To a certain extent, this comes at a price, as the prog content is reduced, the band seeking to make the songs more commercially appealing. The missing track is the brief "Seaward sunset".

"Modern masquerades" saw the band changing their line up for the first time, with Stephen Houston deciding to move on. Houston was a major influence on the band's sound, but John Mason makes for a fine substitute. The appointment of Ian McDonald as producer brings with it a definite improvement in the overall quality of the product, the instrumentation sounding far crisper, with real bite at times.

The missing track here "Germenghast" ran to over 10 minutes, thus leaving the buyer to decide whether to forego such a significant part of the album in the interests of remaining financially astute.

Worthy of investigation though.

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