RUNNING IN CIRCLES

This confidential Dutch neo-prog band doesn't seem to make unanimity on PA. Very few reviews and very low ratings.

There won't be drastic changes in their second work. Some numbers are pleasant while you are listening to them while cooking for instance ("Into Love"); There is even one very good song which might inspire you while preparing the starter like "Downtown" which is the highlight here.

Of course if you are looking for some good ideas for the main course, "A New Day" is absolutely not recommended. Very poor and boring. If ever you were preparing some Hollandaise sauce, it will probably drop. Since your guests will soon arrive, and that you are short of inspiration your expectations are oriented on "Passing Days".

Some nice but childish vocal parts pretend to give you some hints and bring back your confidence. But still, you have no clue what will come next on the menu. And you are almost "Running Scared", like the title of the fifth song from this album.

So, you analyse what is the taste of your visitors. They don't like this, that is only passable. But this song is finally another good one. Catchy chorus, great beat and very good guitar work. Hey, man! You're almost saved. You are going to prepare some Maine lobster with fresh vegetable and marvellous Normandy cream.

Now you need to find the best wine to get along with it. And "Someone Like You" is rather misleading. You only know that a dry white one will do it. But you would have liked some better inspiration than that.

You have used too much cream for the sauce and there is a definite need of break awaiting the cheese plate. The Flight is going to provide you the necessary sleeping time. After this refreshing sleep, you might need to watch a good movie but The Bald, The Fat And The Ugly is not what you had expected. You were thinking of the great The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and this instrumental doesn't meet the expectations.

So, everybody is now ready for the desert. If your Memories serve you right you will prepare a sweet, simple ice cream because at this time there is little room for a creative pastry or a heavy chocolate mousse. At this time there is only one thing to do. While listening to Nights, the whole party jsut escaladate the stairs and get some well deserved rest.

If, like me, you are a passionate cooker, you would probably listen to "CTTE", "SEBTP", TIAB or "WYWH" to be able to elaborate a better dinner. But if you do so, there are plenty of chances that you will be so attracted by the music that there won't be any dinner at all.

For the sake of your guests, do listen to "Running In Circles" instead. At least they'll get something to eat.

Two stars for this uninspired, but not bad album.

For absent friends is dutch neo prog band formed in late'80's. To tell the truth I ever saw here on PA, at least the bands I've reviewed so far so low rated, each album, strange, because I put my hand on their second release from 1994 amed Running in circles and it doesn't seams bad to me at all. Taken influences from neo bands from the glorius '80's neo prog movement, like Pallas and in places Marillion, but aswell they are similar to me with Salem Hill for ex or Big Big train, at least the first albums. Not a very complex neo prog, but to my ears well played and with pleasent moments. The guitar and keys are well constructed but they don't shine, only doing what they know best. Alex Toonen has a perfect voice for this kind of music, never crossing the line with some fantastic high and low vocal lines, but his range can cover easely what his mates try to play - nep prog. I like what I heared here, I was quite shocked to see al their album rated under 3 stars, some of thenm under 2 stars, at least this second offer was a good one. Nothing over the top or excellent, but pleasent to my ears for sure. I will give 3 stars easy, good one. All the pieces re ok, with a plus on the instrumental one The bald, the fat and the ugly or Passing Days. As the previous reviwer observed this is uninspared album of course but ot bad at all. 3 stars for Running in circles. Quite unnoticed band , eve for dutch auditorium, this album I guess needs a better view, not bad at all but nothing grounbreaking either.