FROM THE DAYS OF DEUCALION - CHAPTER 1

Dutch proggers Leap Day are around for quite a while now. They started back in 2008 and they were called a 'super group' right from the start just because almost all the band members played in other prog bands as well. But to be honest I never considered them to be a 'super group'. They're just a couple of guys trying to do something different. If you listen to the music of Flamborough Head, King Eider, Trion and Nice Beaver there really isn't that much resemblance with the music Leap Day creates. Leap Day has a sound of its own. And they can be proud of that!

With 'From The Days Of Deucalion, Chapter 1' they've delivered a beautiful album. It's inspired on Velikovsky's book 'Worlds In Collision', a rather controversial book that really shook up the tree of science back in the sixties. Leap Day isn't defending Velikovsky's ideas. They've used the stories, the myths and legends Velikovsky writes about (and tries to prove his hypotheses) as an inspiration for their compositions. There are eight songs on the album. They all refer to a myth or legend or a biblical story.

The songs are really different from each other. Signs On The 13th for example starts as if you're listening to the soundtrack of a movie. But there is also this heavy rock song called Hurricane and the more poppy song Ambrosia. And what to think of Changing Directions which starts as a right-in- your-face rock song (and has a chorus that keeps bouncing in your head for the rest of the day) but develops as a mind blowing progressive jewel. I can hear some echoes of Camel and Genesis (especially in their epic Insects) but passages in the vein of Gentle Giant are also to be found.

I think Leap Day has made a huge step forward with this album. I really liked their previous efforts a lot, but this one is their best so far. No doubt about that! Beautiful compositions (thumbs up Engelenburg and also Mulder/Waalkens) and superb musical craftsmanship from start to finish. And finally there's the beautiful artwork of Rafal Paluszek that really stands out!

I can't wait to hear what Chapter 2 has got to offer. But I'm afraid that will take a while. In the mean time I will keep on enjoying this album. Leap Day is no 'super group'. But their music is superb. Especially this one!