COMEDY OF ERRORS

In 1986 Comedy of Errors released a second demo, the ''Mini album'', defining their style, with Rog Patterson from Twice Bitten as producer, while the track ''Time there was'' made it to the V/A ''Exposure'' compilation, and in 1987 another 5-track demo, ''24 hours'', was recorded this time with Barry Henderson on bass in the place of Mark Spalding, who had switched to guitars after the departure of Mike Barnard.The last two demos of the band are combined in the collection ''Comedy of errors'', released in 1988 on MSI.

The first five tracks were together in the ''Mini album'' from 1985 and what actually surprises the listener is the excellent production.All the good ingredients of quality neoprog are here: A good British singer,catchy grooves,melodic guitar work,plenty of energy with keyboardist Jim Johnston recalling often TONY BANKS' symphonicism with his playing,but all tracks have also a definite poppy taste here and there.Closer comparisons are PENDRAGON,TWELFTH NIGHT and compatriots ABEL GANZ.The next five tracks belong to the ''24 hours'' demo and the sound seems not to have been remastered from the master tapes.So,the production is quite underground and raw,while the style differs a little.Now the band sounds a lot like early PALLAS and also QUASAR,this means aggresive neo prog with symphonic elements,haunting vocals,less melody and bombastic synths.Both styles though are enjoyable and recommended.

''Comedy of errors'' is a nice documentary of this relatively unknown act's early days and although the songwriting is not always great and the band' style is not very personal, the result is satisfying to say the least.