PICKLELEGAZ

3.5 stars for sure

Picklelegaz this dutch neo prog band with strange name is quite unknown in prog circles, no wonder because they formed in 1988, the first album came after more then 10 years in 1999 and the follow up afer 13 years in 2012, so a career with 25 years and only 2 studio albums, but the music offered is among the most intresting and dense neo prog someone will ever hear, even the influences are obvious. I've review some years ago their second offer and I was more then pleased, now is time for the debut from 1999 named In progress. The influences are obvious from Marillion fame (their best period, the '80s), from IQ, Pendragon and others, both in instrumental sections and in vocal department. This album is quite intresting, at least for me, the opening track Perfect Lie clocking around 11 min is absolutly kick ass, the best from here and among the best neo prog tunes I've heared, the dramatic passages are well written and performed aswell in Marillion style. The vocal lines, the keyboards, guitars are top notch, very solid tune. . All in all, this is great, and for that reason I can't give less then 3-3.5 stars, I like a lot what I've heared and definetly among the most intresting neo prog albums I know, both albums released by this band are worth investigated, this is solid neo prog, widely unknown to larger public, and is a shame.

Picklelegaz this dutch neo prog band with strange name is quite unknown in prog circles, no wonder because they formed in 1988, the first album came after more then 10 years in 1999 and the follow up afer 13 years in 2012, so a career with 25 years and only 2 studio albums. Well, despite some negative reviews I saw here and there their second offer from 2012 named Bedroom circus is a total winner for me, really. Taken influence from Marillion or IQ, both instrumentaly and aswell in vocal departmen, Picklelegaz manage to make a solid release in neo prog field. I don't find any monotonous passages as other reviewers saw in this album, I don't mind at all the vocalist accent, and above all I find it quite enjoyble and well composed. I can even say that Bedroom circus sounds more intresting and catchy then more then half of neo prog albums on the market in last years. Pieces like title track with nice chorus, Last Child is excellent aswell with nice keyboards and guitars and the ending track Anger & Fear nearly 16 min pure neo delight with diversity in arrangements finds this album among my fav lately. The vocal arrangement are more then ok to my ears, I even like a lot Ernst Brobbel voice , specially on Last child. All in all, this is great, and for that reason I can't give less then 4 stars, I like a lot what I've heared and definetly among the most intresting neo prog albums I know.

Hello fans of Fish-era Marillion! You can´t miss this album! Picklelegaz is a dutch band that was founded in the late 80´s and it´s been around for a while since. However, they had only released one official CD before Bedroom Circus in 1999. So it took them some 13 years to have a follow up. Well, it was well worth the waiting, as far as I´m concerned. I don´t have their debut album, but according to a friend who have heard it, it was good, if not well produced, efford. Bedroom Circurs, however, is a fantastic work, full of great melodies, extremely well performed and with an excellent recording and mixing quality.

Ok, as you might have guessed already, originality is not one of their many qualities. The group makes no secrecy of their strongest influence: in fact the references both musically and lyrically of Marillion abound here. Which would maybe be a bad thing if the original Marillion had stuck to their guns and produced the same symphonic prog they used to. But, alas, since the early 90´s Marillion is another band I don´t recognise anymore. And, fortunatly, those dutch guys of Picklelegaz are excellent songwriters themselves, capable of coming up with a bunch of brilliant songs that emulate their idols and still bring something new to the style. Likewise, their arrangements are not really copycats either (there are more keyboards and less guitar than Marillion, plus the guitar solos and riffs are often different). Some instrumental parts are just marvelous! Singer Ernst Brobbel is a fan of Fish, of course, but thanks to his unique timbre he does not sound like a clone. In fact, he is very good vocalist with a dramatic delivering that is perfect for this kind of neo prog.

Although I liked the whole CD, I must say that the second half of Bedroom Circus is where you´ll find the best material, including a stunning 15 minute opus called Anger & Fear that closes this surprising album with an elegant note. As you might expect, there are majestic keyboards waves, beautiful emotional guitar solos, a strong rhythm section and an overall symphonic feel that is quite overwhelming. They possess that rare kind of energy that makes it all sound so refreshing and new that I just can´t have enough of it. Every note seems to fit in perfectly.

One of the best releases of 2012, IMO. I´m looking forward to hear their next CD. I only hope they won´t take another 13 years to do so!

Rating: 4,5 stars. Highly recommended for fans of early Marillion and the ones who love melodic symphonic prog in general.

Dutch Neo Prog band from Vlaardingen, found by a group of friends in late-80's.Their early activity included plenty of live shows as well as two demo tapes, ''Happiness'' and ''Stop rewind, play forward''.Their first album though was launched over a decade after their formation, entitled ''In progress'' and released privately in 1999.The line-up at the time consisted of two keyboardists, Philip van der Mark an Marc Brobbel, along with singer Ernst Brobbel, drummer Jan Willem Meijer, guitarist Harry Steen and bassist Marcel van den Berg.

Born in the 80's, Picklelegaz were reasonably influenced by a number of British Prog bands like MARILLION, IQ and GENESIS and their sound lacks hints of a strong personality but simultaneously it is filled with lots of inspired passages and instant melodies.They combine short and pleasant tracks with more straightforward melodies in the vein of ABEL GANZ with tight and longer arrangements full of theatrical singing lines and deep atmospheres.The singer has an obvious FISH/PETER GABRIEL-like tone, encouraging this particular style of music, while the group of musicians comes up with some very good performances.Especially the longer tracks are excellent with dramatic, epic, MARILLION-esque atmospheres, based on dreamy keyboard parts and elaboborate guitar solos, while the instrumental themes have a discreet symphonic tendency.The sound ranges from smooth and catchy parts to more demanding and rich arrangements with full-blown synths and strong guitar moves and the most obvious flaw comes from the production, which is rather average.

Unique sound?No.Groundbreaking music?Still no.Memorable melodies, dramatic textures and solid musicianship?''In Progress'' is filled with this kind stuff.Anyone into the material of CITIZEN CAIN, THE WATCH or even better RED SAND should search for this great band.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.