HOW TO MAKE IT

This band has little to do with the great Scandinavian scene. Although that later releases will show some better stuff, this album is rather average. The lowest point being their lead singer: almost a disaster, unfortunately.

This second album doesn't sound great to tell you the truth. Pretty much similar to their debut one. No more. Of course, if you like some derivative Banks keyboards, you might be thrilled. But I prefer the original. Can I be blamed for this?

Now, don't get me wrong: this album is not bad; it just lacks of originality and texture. At times, it is moving (like the intro of ''Fly Away'') but these moments are too scarce, really. At times they do sound as their fellowmen ''Titanic''. But they are far to have released a jewel as ''Sultana'' or ''I See No Reason''.

Some fine keyboards still, like during ''Whims Of Time'' are saving the job, but vocals are usually destroying the good feeling. Same remark is valid during ''Whatever'' which holds a nice but mellowish melody.

The best here is probably the closing ''Never Really Learn''. But this won't lead us to heaven. Two stars.

Fruitcake's debut was definitely an uneven release,containing plenty of excellent but plenty of dull moments as well.This was however enough for the band to be signed by Cyclops Records,leaving the small Briskeby Records.In the meantime the band was recording the second full-length album with two session guitarists,Jon Barstad and Robert Hauge,as original member Steffen Holthe was called to fullfill his army season.

The 1994 ''How to make it'' is musically a slight development over ''Fool tapes''.The orientation of the band is now bright in their minds,Progressive Rock with a big time retro feeling and some Neo Prog styles thrown in.The tracks are rather short but the sound is mostly excellent in the familiar Fruitcake style,slow tempo arrangements with symphonic leanings based on atmosphere and melody.Influences are also clear,GENESIS,PINK FLOYD,IQ and ANGLAGARD are the most obvious ones.The keyboard work is absolutely great,nice vintage organ passages and careful use of synths,while the session guitarists have plenty of good ideas as well.But the main problem of the band is always there: the vocal section,which is pretty average,if not bad with both Seland and Sovik having very mediocre and unexpressive voices.If this band had a better man behind the microphone,they could produce a really great album,at least regarding this release.

So things are more than clear.Musically the band offers a lot of highlights and the general style is not original but definitely quite personal.But if good vocals are a main element in your preferences,you will be rather dissapointed.Even so,''How to make it'' is a decent listening in my books.Recommended.

Fruitcake is a rather introvert Norwegian progband led by drummer/vocalist/composer Pal Sovik. Their sound is full of vintage organ, synths and some nice electric guitars. Most compositions are in the minor key, slow-paced and with some well controlled synth outbreaks. The ability to keep their sound tightly together makes Fruitcake an original band and a welcome variation on all the bombastic groups. The vocals by Sovik are the band's main weakness, though this problem would be less imminent on later albums. On this album the band shows some real talent for composing grasping melodies, but fails to deliver complete songs that work. Their minimalist melancholy style is really charming on their next album 'Room for Suprises' (which I rated with a five star because of its personal impact on me as a listener), but on 'How to Make it' the band really sounds a bit immature.

This album is for real fans of Fruitcake that after discovering the melancholy & slow-burning 'Room for Suprises' and the more up-beat symphonic (heavy) prog albums 'One More Slice' and 'Power Structure' are still asking for more. Could still make an impact if it hits the right chord with the listener.