GLORY OF THE INNER FORCE

Beautiful caricature of the super-arty European stuff prevalent in the mid 1970s. If one wanted to sample that classic sound for the purposes of exhibition or time travel, Finch's Glory of the Inner Force would be a great place to start. In fact the only thing holding back this tremendous piece of work is the period in which it's stuck, with the hippie dance grooves and distantly tinny recording to prove it. No complaints mind you, it is indeed glorious. Or, at least, was. I mean someone had the patience to listen to this stuff, it sold reasonably well for an instrumental rock album.

Influences here are more global than local with only a portion of their Dutch roots audible, the rest from progressive blues-jazz and British artrock. Each player is excellent, none stealing the show, composer/guitarist extraordinaire Joop van Nimwegen and keyboardist Cleem Determejer's unison circulars push off the convincing if dated 'Register Magister' laced with great little organ phrasings and guitar work. This was a case (among many) when one band impacted by others in turn had an impact itself. 'Paradoxical Moods' is rhythmic, has a little jazz and more delicious conversing between guitar and keys, very American with a strong live feel, finished with flair on Leonard Bernstein. A mood continued into 'Pisces' showing van Nimwegen's fondness for Steve Howe's raw energy, later swelling on orchestration and up with brilliant 13-minute 'A Bridge to Alice', its secret faces, quiet ambitions, subterfuge, deceptions and misdirections, a remarkable achievement for a rock quartet. Plus we get the sweet two-part single 'Colossus' as a bonus, a cut that reminds of everyone from Colosseum to UFO to early Scorpions.

Should be highly pleasing for anyone with a soft spot for progressive rock-fusion at its most ridiculous and wonderful, a definitive time capsule and a snapshot of a great moment in music.