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IT'S ALL UP NOW - ANTHOLOGY

Fruupp

Symphonic Prog


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Fruupp It's All Up Now - Anthology album cover
3.66 | 21 ratings | 6 reviews | 24% 5 stars

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Boxset/Compilation, released in 2004

Songs / Tracks Listing

CD 1 (79:09)
- Future Legends:
1. Future Legends (1:33)
2. Decision (6:26)
3. As Day Breaks with Dawn (5:00)
4. Graveyard Epistle (6:16)
5. On a Clear Day (7:46)
6. Lord of the Incubus (6:24)
7. Song for a Thought (7:30)
8. Future Legends (0:49)
- Seven Secrets:
9. Wise as Wisdom (7:08)
10. White Eyes (7:15)
11. Garden Lady (9:08)
12. Three Spires (5:02)
13. Elizabeth (7:47)
14. The Seventh Secret (1:05)

CD 2 (78:57)
1. Prince of Heaven (1974 single A-side) (3:30)
- The Prince of Heaven's Eye:
2. It's All Up Now (7:22)
3. Prince of Darkness (3:48)
4. Annie Austere (5:16)
5. Knowing You / Crystal Brook (10:47)
6. Seaward Sunset (3:08)
7. The Perfect Wish (4:25)
- Modern Masquerades:
8. Misty Morning Way (7:00)
9. Masquerading with Dawn (7:16)
10. Gormenghast (10:45)
11. Why (4:08)
12. Janet Planet (3:03)
13. Sheba's Song (8:29)

Total Time 158:06

Line-up / Musicians

- Peter Farrelly / bass, flute, lead vocals
- Martin Foye / drums & percussion
- Stephen Houston / keyboards, oboe, vocals (except CD2, tracks 8-13)
- Vincent McCusker / guitars, vocals
- John Mason / keyboards, vibes, vocals (CD2, tracks 8-13)

Releases information

2CD Castle Music, Sanctuary Records Group (LC 6448 ® 2004; CMDDD1019)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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FRUUPP It's All Up Now - Anthology ratings distribution


3.66
(21 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(24%)
24%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(57%)
57%
Good, but non-essential (14%)
14%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (5%)
5%

FRUUPP It's All Up Now - Anthology reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by erik neuteboom
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Fruupp was a very interesting and unique sounding UK band but on Prog Archives it's a bit overlooked progrock beauty. First a small history. Irish guitarist, singer and writer Vince McCusker had spent some months in London to find musicians for his musical ideas. Disappointed he returned to Belfast and recruted musicians to play his material: Miles McKee (lead vocals), Stephen Houston (keyboards/oboe), Peter Farrelly (bass/vocals) and Martin Foye (drums). They called themselves Fruupp, the name is derived from an Electroset Page, the band added an U and a P. Fruupp signed a contract with Dawn Records and in '71 they released the debut album titled Future Legends, in '74 followed by the Seven Secrets and The Prince of Heaven's Eyes. The band was making real progress (good sales, succesfull gigs) but Stephen Houston left for religious reasons the band and was replaced by John Mason. In this line-up Fruupp made their last but acclaimed LP Modern Masquerades ('74).

This very comprehensive 2-CD compilation contains the almost complete tracklist of all four albums, only one track from every album has been deleted: Future Legends minus Olde tyme future, Seven Secrets minus Faced With Shekinah, The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes minus Jaunting Car and Modern Masquerades minus Mystery Might. From the very first moment it's obivous that Fruupp has an unique, very distinctive progressive rock sound, a kind of 'eclectic prog': a blend of several styles like classic, blues, rock, folk and symphonic. Because of that variety and use of classical instruments like the oboe and cello, Fruupp their sound is not every proghead's cup of tea and I have to admit that to me not every track on this album sounds as a captivating musical experience. My favorite album is the debut effort entitled Future Legends (with Modern Masquerades as second best), especially compositions like Decision (killer guitar solo), As Day Breaks With Dawn (great vocals and dynamic atmosphere with strong interplay between organ and guitar), Graveyard Epistle (Arabian sounding oboe sound) and Lord Of The Incubus (fiery electric guitar with rock and roll piano). Other strong moments on this 2-CD compilation are Elizabeth (cheerful mid-tempo beat with strong classical overtones by piano and strings), Knowing You / Crystal Brook (sparkling piano and howling electric guitar), The Perfect Wish (lush string- ensemble sound and sensitive electric guitar runs), Masquerading With Dawn (swinging rhythm featuring a great bombastic finale with wonderful keyboards) and the final track Sheba's Song (beautiful interplay between guitar and keyboards and lots of shifting moods).

An unique progrock band that deserves more attention on this site!

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars During their short (but prolific) career, ther band issued four albums. All of them have been released in the CD format. Individually as well as in the form of a combination of two albums per CD. All these items are quite pricey. So, I can only recommend this double CD set which holds almost all of their work. You can get this one for as little as 11 ? (including shipment) on Amazon's marketplace. For this price, you'll get some sweet and pure symphonic prog music (mixed sometimes with jazz).

If "Camel" or "Rousseau" are appealing to you, chances are high that you will be interested in "Fruupp".

As most of my fellow reviewers have mentioned, one song per album has been omitted. And, as incredible as it might appear, they didn't pick up the poorest ones to skip! At least it is my opinion for three out of the four.

One of the true gem of their first album "Future Legends" has been forgotten : "Olde Tyme Future". A pure symphonic jewel and one of the best song from this album (which is the best from the band). I can hardly forgive this. Unbelievable!

IMO, their second album is the weakest of their discography. Too jazzy-oriented. Even if "Faced with Shekinah" was only very good during the second half, it featured a fully "Trespass-esque" and interesting mood which was absolutely not the case with "Three Spires" or "Elisabeth". The title track of this album shouldn't have sit here either. Just a sixty-five seconds masquerade.

From their third album "The Prince of Heaven's Eyes" the incredibely poor and dull "Jaunting Car" was skipped. Good news : it was a totally useless instrumental.

And finally, from "Modern Masquerades" their fourth and last album. Even if "Mystery Night" was not a superb song (it ended up almost like a jazzy jam) it was far much better than the major blunder "Janet Planet" which was totally boring. "Why" being a mellow ballad not too much convincing could have been skipped as well.

I know that track selection for a compilation is not an easy job. But when you have decided for space problem to avoid only one song per album you have released, I believe that the task is not daunting to select the right one.

Anyway, as I have said in the introduction, this "Anthology" sells at a bargain price. Less than three ? per original album. Definitely well worth the money.

Three stars.

Review by Matti
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I've been listening to this 2-CD very actively for two weeks and I really wonder how this band has remained so unknown. For an "old school" proghead like me (grown up with Yes, Genesis, etc) FRUUPP gives a pleasure of discovering some wonderful genuine prog: beautiful, pastoral, exciting, part jazzy, part folkish, and with a fairytale-like aura. It's like finding a hidden room - or a garden - from your old beloved home.

While Erik prefers their debut Future Legends (1973), that's the hardest one for me to enjoy, with an exception of 'Decision' and tiny title tracks. Bit too rough guitars and overall sound for my taste. Later albums have clearer emphasis on keyboards (not meaning any breathtaking solos but a pastoral soundscape). Already the second album Seven Secrets (April 1974) has notably mellower sounds and compositions; it reminds me some moments of Trespass (Genesis, 1970).

The second disc of this anthology started my growing interest and gave me an ecstatic listening pleasure already when I listened to it through for the first time, early in the morning with headphones. Self-produced Prince of Heaven's Eyes (November 1974) is regarded as their short career's highlight. Absolutely lovely it is. Also Modern Masquerades (1975) is graet, even when Stephen Houston (keyboards, oboe, add. vocals, and a good deal of composing) had left the band. John Mason (keys, vibes, add. vocals) was a perfect replacement. And the writer of probably the best track of the album, 'Gormenghast', which was inspired by fantasy novels of Mervyn Peake. --- The other reviewers have been critical about the choice of omitted tracks (only one per album!) and I truly agree especially on 'Janet Planet'. An irritating pop song, like some throwaway from 60's flower power years. What the hell is it doing amongst this wonderful, arty, dreamy, original prog rock? But even with minor imperfections this anthology is a true treasure box! The beautiful original album covers are included too.

Review by kenethlevine
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Team
3 stars I know some people are able to borrow a disk and listen to it a couple of times, while confidently formulating an opinion that they don't mind committing to posterity on a website read by thousands. Let me just say that no review of mine results from fewer than 3 full listens, which is sometimes painful but at least makes me feel confident that somebody's children will really know I gave each disk a chance. Hey prog is a pretentious art form so its reviewers are allowed to feel self important too!

All this to say that nothing requires me to listen to the same recording over and over again for a week, probably a dozen times, especially when I don't consider it even close to a masterpiece. Yet this is precisely what has happened in the case of the nigh-complete compilation before us. I believe that this exercise wheel approach to reviewing FRUUPP reflects both their best and worst aspects. On the one hand, the group plays well and is generally pleasant to listen to, while being complex enough to try again and again. On the other hand, not enough of it really sticks, no matter how much I try. I find myself lamenting how much effort is required to stay focused. I blame part of this on poor production in the sense that many passages are recorded so low that I need to jack the volume up, only to be nearly deafened by a subsequent blast. In the 1970s I'm sure that white noise was not as pervasive as it is now, so I will cut them a bit of slack.

The music is hard to characterize, with an eclectic blend of neoclassical, sunny 1960s pop a la BEATLES and HOLLIES (especially in the vocal sections), KING CRIMSON referenced mellotrons, VAN MORRISON/TRAFFIC styled jazz, GENESIS mythological references and dramatic flair, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST soaring lead guitars, and some NICK DRAKE, MAGNA CARTA and TIR NA NOG gentle string oriented psych. It's surprising how rarely they betray their Celtic origins given that every other contemporary influence can be discerned.

It would appear that the best material emanates from the first and last of the four original albums, with the third being by far the poppiest and weakest, even if it does include their most accessible and confident short song, the single "Prince of Heaven". Luckily, the longest tracks tend to be the best, my favourite being "Graveyard Epistle". Spacey, ponderous vocals, leaving the 60s way behind, bass, electric piano, alternating with faster passages make this wholly captivating. At around 2 mins an instrumental part is a highlight for the group, with middle eastern sounding motifs on keys/strings, organ and bass are simply bursting with conviction. "On a Clear Day" and "Song for a Thought" both feature lead guitars like those of John Lees in BJH, especially the latter with a striking similarity to his solo on "After the Day". The beautiful "Three Spires" and "Elizabeth" show the more sedate and orchestrated side, the latter bursting forth in mid verse after the lengthy intro has well established the proceedings. "Misty Morning Way" and "Masquerading with Dawn" form another peak of inspired playing on mellotron, guitars and bass, as well as convincing vocal performances, with Mervyn Peake's "Gormenghast" only slightly below the summit. "Sheba's Song" recapitulates these best qualities one last time before the group takes its leave.

If you enjoy a generally mellow hybrid of 1960s and early 1970s psych and progressive stylings, with an accent on mellotron, strings, and soaring lead guitar, it's all up to you now to discover Fruupp, one of the more underrated, if ultimately not entirely convincing, prog bands of the 1970s.

Latest members reviews

4 stars A very solid 4 *. This music is a bit hard to describe, folk prog more prog is probably close. As it says in the booklet: 'Some would call it dated,though I would prefer to feel like it's a warm blanket on a winters night'.PERFECT. These guys are unique like VDGG,,Caravan or Gentle Giant,though n ... (read more)

Report this review (#145107) | Posted by gr8dane | Tuesday, October 16, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Very nice compilation which gives a comprehensive overview of the group's output. All their albums are represented here with only one track per album missing. Their progressive folk approach is a crossover between Canterbury and Progressive if you like. This remastered double-album is worth ... (read more)

Report this review (#68365) | Posted by Achim | Sunday, February 5, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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