COLD STEELCliffhangerNeo-Prog3.14 | 21 ratings |
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer |
Dutch Prog Nostalgia Part Two. Halfway the Nineties I got the advise to listen to this band
from a fellow symphomaniac. He had attended a few gigs and was euphoric about their
lush symphonic prog sound. So I joined him on a serie of concerts and soon became a fan
too: often long and alternating compositions with strong hints from Classic Seventies Prog
like Yes (powerful Rickenbacker bass runs), Genesis (Hackett-like guitar, Moog Taurus bass
pedals and majestic Mellotron eruptions) and UK (Jobson inspired keyboard work). On this
debut CD that was released on the (in)famous Dutch progrock label SI Music, you can
enjoy the tasteful and dynamic Cliffhanger sound, loaded with shifting moods and soli on
guitar and keyboards along impressive bass play by Gijs Koopman (later I was allowed to
play on his Moog Taurus bass pedals and EMU vintage keys at his home, great
experience!). Nowadays Gijs is playing in Dutch prog band Knight Area with fellow
Cliffhanger member Rinie Huigen. Although I have no problems with the vocals by Rinie
Huigen, lots of progheads kept on complaining about his voice and gradually Cliffhanger
lost their cult-following, also because their music turned into more complex. They moved to
the known French progrock label Musea but failed to make impression with the albums Not
To Be Or Not To Be and Mirror Site, I still feel uncomfortable that Cliffhanger never got the
recognition they deserved.
erik neuteboom |
3/5 |
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