KALEIDOTHROPE

QF's third studio, album is not a big departure from their first two albums, just as their "Maître? de-pensée" Ozric Tentacles never really changed their soundscapes throughout all their discography. And indeed Fantay seem so infatuated with Ozric that one doubts if they didn't purposely take out an "s" in the second part of their name, because it's rather obsessive. Even in the artwork dept; they manage to be Ozric-ian with this self-made (by bassist Jaro) Easter Island and Vikings artwork.

The quintet (that's the standard prog quartet and a flutist) develops an almost-instrumental rock (only the opening Spirit and Zwar Tysch tracks have vocals ? by guests too), that is very danceable, joyous and ultimately peaceful. Just like OT, QF has some/many programmed beats that give their music a slight robotic feel, but it is nothing shocking either. Despite the joyous nature of their music, I find it a bit sad that by this third album, QF has yet to find its own original soundscapes ans still rely on their almost-unique OT influence. I guess that there is maybe enough space for two in that special niche. Maybe that's Quantum's ultimate Fantasy and they have the chance to live it. All the more to them in that case.

If you look well enough, you'll find this third album coming with a bonus homemade DVD disc of theirs that includes low-resolution homemade film about life on the road in Germany (rather abruptly assembled) of relatively uninteresting tidbits (no naked groped groupies and the "de-rigueur" usual horsing around), a low-res home movie about their home studio (on how to bury the drummer in the basement so you don't hear him) and finally a local Flemish festival (equally low-res film), where, if you still needed proof or confirmation, QF is happy in their OT clone. Well QF does manage to have some success at what they like doing, so all the more power to them.