SCIENCE OF COINCIDENCE

Due to the writing of LANDMARQ's fourth album, Damian Wilson left the band and was replaced by the fabulous Tracy Hitchings. Previously she's been in bands such as QUASAR and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. She's also currently a part of Clive NOLAN and Oliver WAKEMAN'S's project called "Jabberwocky". This woman is perhaps the best female vocalist in progressive rock. She's not only doing the vocals on this album, she's also taken part in writing and co-writing the main part of the albums lyrics. On this album you can hear a revitalised LANDMARQ with a better and much more appropriate vocalist, and a development in the song writing since the previous album "The Vision Pit". Musically LANDMARQ is reminiscent to keyboard dominated, symphonic neo-prog bands such as IQ, MARILLION, PALLAS and PENDRAGON with an 80's sound to it. There's also traces of CAMEL, GENESIS and PINK FLOYD influences. This album contains highlights such as the epic track "The Vision Pit", the poppy "Summer Madness", the intricate "Lighthouse", the beautiful "Between Sleeping and Dreaming" and the amazing last track "The Overlook". There just aren't enough of superlatives to describe "The Overlook"; it has got all you want. Actually there aren't any weak track on this album, and the production is very good as well. Maybe this album is more laid-back and commercial than "The Vision Pit", and some may consider it to be to poppy, but I think it's a step forward compared to their previous album. Unfortunately the cover is very boring, and it doesn't really get your attention if you're not familiar with LANDMARQ. So there won't be anyone who's buying this album because the cover got them curious. But I advice you to ignore the cover, buy the CD, and just enjoy the music. It's on of the best records from 1998, and it's highly recommended.

The fourth album of this neo-prog band makes a matured impression by delivering strong melodies and great symphonic harmonies from guitar and lots of keyboards. The tracks are extremely well crafted and easy to listen to at the same time, although not commercial by any means. Compared to previous albums, their sound has been updated by different sounds from the past and the present and it gives the album a timeless character. There's enough highlights to recommend this album for people who find the quality of the song writing important and who like the softer side of prog, the band does sound softer than they used to but I can hardly find that a loss ! If you want to get to know this band this may not be a bad place to start.

"Science of coincidence is the first album with a new vocalist, Tracy Hitchings replaced Damien Wilson and it's quite a change even if they're both skilled singers. They do have the sense of drama in common as you can hear on the energetic opening track. In the beginning of the nineties this band was formed out of the ashes of Quasar, an English prog band of the eighties who released two decent albums and had numerous line-up changes. Hitchings was the last lead vocalist of Quasar. No wonder you can spot traces of the nervous, frightening atmosphere which was typical for Quasar.

On every Landmarq album a song is named to the previous one. Can't help comparing the intro of "the vision pit" to the opening part of "Shine on you crazy diamond" from Floyd but fortunately the rest of this excellent moody epic is totally different. The many layers of keyboards weave a web where one can set his mind on dreaming. This is one of the reason I find this album enjoyable. It has a laid back feel to it making it a joy to listen to. More than on other Landmarq albums the keyboards dominate the sound. Lots of organs, moogs, a mellotron and modern keyboards are used to produce the right mood. Also the guitar parts add a substantial part to the overall sound not in the least by including some psychedelic elements. For me "Lighthouse" is the best track, it starts in a mood like you're wandering in a dark wood listening to ghost stories. But it gets even more excitable with a large instrumental part full of jazzy duels between all of the instruments ; mid seventies Camel seems not far away. Awesome ! After that "Between sleeping and dreaming" is the perfect antidote. A calm but gorgeous track with lovely melodies by the vocals on a classical piano part and a stunning guitar/keyboard arrangement later on. Again, it reminds me on the wind & wuttering period of Genesis. "More flames." and the title track could be considered as less memorable but not bad in any way ; this is vintage Landmarq which means staccato rhythms and the weebling Mark Kelly sound on the moogs but Hitchings distinctive vocals are definitely an improvement for the sound. Still impressed by the stunning way she is singing. I assume a lot of prog lovers aren't to keen on the pop influence which is present on a track like "summer madness" but this is still a very decent and enjoyable neo prog track. "The overlook" is another highlight, a timeless epic with the best of what this band has to offer and that's quite a lot. Recommended !

Their last album "The Vision Pit" was quite a disappointment as far as I'm concerned. One of their assets was the excellent lead vocals from Damian who unfortunately left the band in the meantime. But he is replaced by Tracy Hitchings who is performing quite alright.

I quite like the fully Floydean intro of "The Vision Pit" (even if it sounds as clone of the great SOYCD). Most of the track features ambient mood during which keyboards are pretty enjoyable and the usual Uwe's great guitar work which can be fully appreciated as well. This song is very good. It was quite a while that the band didn't produce such a good one. The closing section is pure melody and happiness. A highlight of course.

The shorter tracks (total of three: the title song, "Heritage" and " Between Sleeping and Dreaming") are less achieved and sounds as fillers. This album could have been somewhat shorter and would also have gained in vigour if some of these would have been skipped. Not too much harm though?

The fully neo and pop "Summer Madness" is truly joyful and dynamic. Even if the summits of music aren't reached, it remains decent and offers some enjoyable vocals and guitar parts which should please any neo-prog fan.

It is of course not easy to switch from the powerful Damian's voice to the delicate one (but still very effective) from Tracy. It is particularly true during "Lighthouse". She is quite moving in her role but I can't help comparing. I prefer the instrumental parts in this track.

The second best song form this offering is again the very Floydean oriented "The Overlook". Uwe is again superb and the Banks oriented synths are rather convincing as well. From then onwards, the "Genesis" sound is more marked than Floyd's one.

I would say that this is a good album which probably lacks of personality. Seven out of ten (but shy of the four star rating). The band is apparently working on a new release which should see the light in 2009.

Strong heritage

After three albums with Damian Wilson on lead vocals, Landmarq employed Tracy Hitchings to fill Wilson's shoes. Hitchings is well known in the world of Neo- Prog, having worked with Clive Nolan, Karl Groom and other Prog luminaries. She lended her powerful vocals to Quasar's excellent Loreli album (a personal favourite of mine), to two albums by Strangers On A Train and even recorded a solo album with words and music written by Nolan before she joined Landmarq. Those familiar with the above mentioned works will have quite a good picture of what to expect from Science Of Coincidence. This is an album of well-written, well-performed and well-produced material.

The songs are lush and melodic and filled with clean, soaring lead guitar lines and modern keyboards runs. I find this music very pleasant and enjoyable but somewhat lightweight. Fans of Magenta's two first albums as well as 90's Pendragon will probably enjoy this the most. There is no denying the immense talent of everyone involved here, and this is certainly a good album, but anyone looking for something dark or heavy should definitely look elsewhere. Even if I think that Tracy Hitchings is a fantastic vocalist, I personally prefer the Damian Wilson-era of Landmarq. At least when considering the excellent debut album Solitary Witness, which remains my favourite Landmarq album.

Recommended, but not essential for all

Though new vocalist Tracy Hitchings brings some impressive talent to bear on The Science of Coincidence, it's not quite enough to sell me on Landmarq's rather generic Pendragon/early Marillion-derived brand of neo-prog. Part of the issue is that the production on this album seems rather average - Tracy's vocals have plenty of room to breathe, but the rest of the instruments seem to be tripping over each other, and are often a little too quiet compared to the vocals to really stand out. After the belter of a title track, the album rapidly loses momentum, and whilst I think it is a shade better than previous efforts by the band it's not enough to propel them into the upper tier of neo acts.