FOCUS 8

There is a funny story about how this band came into existence - Thjis van Leer heard a Focus cover band one night, and he decided to make them his backing band for his new musical adventure - and this how Focus of the new millenium was born, but unfortunately this same Focus didn't last very long. Van Leer's role here is one of an old rocker way past his prime trying to put together some pieces of nostalgia, but let's give him credit, because without him this project would have never existed, and he does bring in some of that vintage sounding flute and organ with him. With that said, van Leer is living too much in the past, and two of his tracks here feature yodeling a la "Hocus Pocus", which wasn't really a big part of what Focus was about. Furthermore, there is also an average rocker with the name "Hurkey Turkey", without doubting bringing to mind both "Harem Scarem" and the aformentioned hit. However also written by him, is the next installment to the Focus series, the title track. This piece is really magnificent, and up to par with the 70s work, while still original and not trying to completely replicate the magic from "Moving Pictures" and "Focus III". But let's not forget the music of van Leer's backing band! Jan Dumee has contributed three excellent tracks which sound much more vibrant than anything else on this album. In some ways they suggest affinity to classic Focus and yet they are completely different. These are the real gems of the album. Bobby Jacobs' sole contribution is "De ti o de mi" a slow and melodic number worthy of the Focus name. All in all this is an excellent album almost on par with their 70s albums, but Thjis van Leer's backing band is at least as responsible for the high quality as he is, IMO.