DECADE REFERENCE

I knew Salmon through their second release, 2004´s When The Dust Settles. I was moved enough to try to find their debut CD and see how they started. Upon hearing it a couple of times it was clear that the band had developed quite a bit since their start recording. Nevertheless, this is a good record considering it is their first. Their strengh and talent is very obvious from the beginning.

This dutch outfit is quite melodic and the musicians are very good. Their songs are more on the softer side of prog, but they are also bombastic and climatic at times, specially during the epic A second life with heart and soul (21:42). I loved the guitar solos on this album: guitarrist Gerrit Hoogebeen has a fine style that reminds me of Andrew Latimer sometimes. Bassist Sven de Haan is a bass virtuoso and even if keyboardsman Jan Jaap Langereis´s vocals aren´t not nearly as good as their instrumental prowness, the overall result is very pleasant and, more important, the band has a personality. Even the simple ballad like Dancing Bird is very poignant (thanks largely to guest singer Marina Knip). And the band was still working their skills (the amazing Gentle Giant-like backing vocals on their second release are still absent here).

The production is only average. Salmon is the kind of band that will please both the symphonic fan and neo prog lovers since the music is both melodic and complex. Very promising. My rating: 3,5 stars.