CLIMBING MOUNT IMPROBABLE

Climbing mount improbable released in summer of 2008 was the sixth studio album of this descrete but very crafted and decent band from neo prog realm. Keeping the line up same as on previous two albums, with this album they bring nothing new in the genre, even in places is a let down from the rest of their albums. Stephan's warm voice was no longer available , and is made by one of the Wernars trio - Marijke who has a pleasent voice , but to my ears is a little cold without varations in range, and sounds in some parts like Pter Gabriel. I think is the weakest point in US later albums, while is good , it doesn't keep with the high standards of the music, and drag down the band with this aproach of the voice. The voice of Marijke is to monotone in my opinion, the voice of first two albums, - Sthephan Christiaans wa much better and was fiting like a glove in their music, I don't know why they get rid of this guy, he was very good vocalist. Now, about the music, same neo prog arrangements with this time little intristing elements added like on their previous albums,this time the band sounds like they are tired to sing and play anymore, no vein in the pieces, no balls to the arrangements, only the excellent bass of the main man of the band Jos Wernars and the solid keyboards of his brother Ernest save the album to be a usual one in this scene. Ok the instrumenal passages are all over, the album has 5 pieces, where 4 of them are over 12 min, the last one has 17 min , so enough space to show us they are among the best, but this time they not quite succed like on previous albums. The album is little monotone in places, and don't offer so much intristing ideas anymore. The best pieces is without doubt the longest one, here they shine like old time, with blistering and inventive keyboards and some superb bass lines, the rest are only ok, and as I said the voice is the one who must be replaced, because the rest is ok most of the time. 3 stars for this album, less enjoyble then Eamon's day, so far their best album, but with some good moments here and there. Still very unknown band in this field and for sure they need a wider recognition. All three albums boughted from their offcial site, where of course is available the who catalogue of US.Enjoy