FAR OFF GRACE

This is the third album of the German progressive band Vanden Plas. After the very interesting and progressive "The God Thing", the band has reached a higher level. The songs are less progressive than the previous ones (I mean on their previous release), but they are more melodic and inspired. Andy Wuntz has progressed very much, and his vocals are very emotive and more powerful.

There is an alternance between heavy songs like " I Can See" or " Into The Sun" and more progressive songs like "Far Off Grace" or "Inside Of Your Head". The ballad of the album ("I Don't Miss You") is very calm, there is only keyboards and vocals, but it is the only weak point of the album, being less interesting than the others songs.

The performance of the musicians is excellent, offering a pleasant mixing of technicity and melody. Some piano passages on "Far Off Grace" and "I'm In You" are very beautiful. The lyrics are full of mysticism, inspired by Andy Kuntz's poems.

Definitely, a very good album which allows Vanden Plas to climb at the summit of the Progressive scene (at least the European scene). At first, I enjoyed more his successor "Beyond Daylight" but after many listenings, I found an excellent album which plays often in my CD player. The best album of Vanden Plas in my opinion.

You can buy it without hesitation.