ADAM & EVE

This, along with The Rainmaker, seems to be the album that divides the fans. Some love it, some hate it. Well, I left this one till the end to buy, and I have to say, I love it! This band just get better and better. 'Love Supreme' and 'Driver's Seat' are typical, classic FK tracks, very Yes influenced, with plenty of interesting instrumentation. Of course, what really does it is Stolt's Howe-like guitar work, and Froberg's Anderson-like vocals. Two excellent songs that stand along side anything the band has produced before. 'Cosmic Circus' has a ridiculously catchy whistling keyboard effect running throughout it, a nice melody and excellent singing, leading into 'Babylon', a superb Bodin composed instrumental. I love both of these. I suspect Bodin is very underrated as a player, he is actually very good and very professional. 'A Vampire's View' is another good track, with Gildenlow hamming it up in the best theatrical tradition. The story itself, about a vampire as told by that vampire, is well written - let's not forget that this band is not writing in its first language, something that should not be overlooked when the critics come calling. Lyrically the band is better than many English, or English speaking bands, eg: Yes. I love the chorus on this one too, again, very catchy. I have to say here that the production on this album is wonderful. Most FK albums are, but this one has a certain something that makes the whole package very good indeed. 'Days Gone By' is another supreme Bodin piece, which seamlessly follows on from 'Vampire' and shows Bodin's tremendous ability on the piano. It has, indeed, a feeling of days gone by. I could imagine this being played in Paris in the 19th century. The title track is another class piece, a little heavier but with the usual strong melody. Lyrically, I love this one too, being a modern take on, well, the Adam And Eve mythos. Another good chorus here. 'Starlight Man' is a shorter piece, with nice acoustic guitar, and Anderson style vocals from Hasse in the chorus. Roine sounds particularly good singing the verse here, this type of song obviously suits him. Again, it has a melody that will linger in the mind. 'Timelines' is quite a heavy piece again, though the chorus, as usual, is melodic. Could be my least favourite track here, but I do like it, and tomorrow it may be one of my faves! 'Driver's Seat' I have already mentioned, and the album concludes with 'The Blade Of Cain' a good guitar led instrumental, that ends with lines from 'Love Supreme' being reprised. Wonderful stuff! I have no hesitation in rating this album highly, and in fact, would say it is my third favourite FK album, only Flower Power and Unfold The Future edging it out. The cover, also, is superb, maybe my fave FK cover. All in all a wonderful album that will become, in years to come, a classic. If you are hesitating over getting it, don't. Get it now!