GLORY OF THE INNER FORCE

FINCH were an all-instrumental band from THE NETHERLANDS who seemed to be influenced by country-mates FOCUS as well as YES and MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. The playing is outstanding and the music seems to border Symphonic and Fusion. And that's the problem for me because I wish it was more in the Fusion camp.The lighter Symphonic sounds leave me feeling "meh", especially by the final track when i've had enough. I do like how prominant the bass is though, and the splashes of mellotron on every track is appreciated.

"Register Magister" opens with keyboards galore bfore the bass and drums join in. It settles 2 minutes in as the guitar arrives. The chunky bass is impressive. Piano a minute later and some mellotron. More mellotron 4 minutes in as the guitar solos. It sounds like Steve Howe on guitar to end it. "Paradoxical Moods" opens with guitar and drums before keyboards come in and take over. It settles with organ before 2 minutes. Some laid back guitar and drums take over as bass throbs. Mellotron before 3 minutes. Some scorching guitar 7 1/2 minutes in.

"Pisces" has an interesting intro then it settles in with some nice bass. Piano leads after 1 1/2 minutes with prominant bass.The guitar is back. It calms right down before 4 minutes.The guitar starts to solo tastefully 5 1/2 minutes in. A full sound returns before 7 minutes. "A Bridge To Alice" features some impressive drumming early. Huge bass before 5 minutes as drums pound and the guitar plays on. Organ after 6 minutes before the sound turns dreamy then calms right down. It turns haunting before 10 minutes then starts to build a minute later. Mellotron 12 1/2 minutes in. I like how they at least mix it up a bit in this one.

This is complex and bombastic with lots of solos, but it fails to excite me much. 3.5 stars.