GLORY OF THE INNER FORCE

What a debut album by Finch! If you were getting tired or bored of the post-1974 Focus output and their masterful "Hamburger Concerto" than you had an option to board a faster Dutch train, then it would be Finch.

Finch were a group of four instrumental virtuosos but the main attraction was the young guitar player Joop van Nimwegen seconded by a universal keyboard master Cleem Determeijer.

This record contains the rawest and most classically oriented Finch playing. Often, the speed of playing and dynamics are astonishing while not getting over the edge. The guitar sound is quite sharp and fits well into edgier rock. "Register magister" has a lot of interesting style trips in it be it symphonic rock or rock'n'roll, whereas "Paradoxical moods" is closer to the conventional first 70's rock sound with Hammond etc.. "Pisces" is the most symphonic number with great organ and guitar soloing that would be repeated on the next album. This one reminds me of Focus. "A bridge to Alice" does not stand as high as the previous 3 tracks but it has the typical Finch/Focus emotional end that these bands mastered brilliantly. The short "Colosus" tracks are short virtuoso pieces with trademark Shadow-inspired soloing. They are great to serve as band's introduction. This and the next one, more refined "Beyond expression" are among the peak of European instrumental prog rock of the 70's. 4.5 stars