HAMBURGER CONCERTO

FOCUS is a very creative band that puts humour on their compositions but are extremely careful to not overuse it, making it a pleasant experience together with their amazing instrumentation. They work seriously on their arrangements, and in this disc they managed to create a barroque scenary mixed with some rocking moments. At first this may scream "inconsistent", but it actually worked perfectly, and the album's flow is never interrupted.

"Delitia Musicale" and "Cathedrale" bring to your mind an epic feel, you have dreams of travelling to those ancient romantic times, but soon a rocker "Harem Scarem" (a good example of how not to overuse a formula - i'm talking about the funny vocals, which are wisely used here) and a happy "Birth" wake you up and realise that the real dream is to come...the title suite. Overlong? Maybe, but they do progress the song with very beautiful melodies and it features the record's funniest moment, the second vocal craziness. An embryo version of "Birth" concludes the experience and it takes the best parts of the longer version of it.

Some people say this is FOCUS' finest work. I can't say that because i never listened to any other disc by them, but i am sure that Hamburger Concerto is a very creative work which the band would find trouble to top. Anyway, it is not a masterpiece but it is absolutely essential since it shows an unique side of prog music.