SAFE

"Safe" is the fourth full-length studio album by Polish progressive rock act Collage. The album was released through the Ars Mundi label in 1995. It´s the successor to "Moonshine" from 1994 and the two albums share the same quintet lineup. After a start where Collage was predominantly known in their own native country, "Moonshine" was an international breakthrough for the band and it was a huge boost not only for Collage, but for the progressive rock scene in Poland in general. So "Safe" is in many ways the difficult number two (although it´s in reality Collage' fourth full-length studio album).

Stylistically the material on the 12 tracks, 71:01 minutes long album is neo-progressive rock and an overall more subtle and less multi-layered version of the music style found on "Moonshine". "Safe" generally doesn´t quite reach the excellence of "Moonshine" though and that also includes the less powerful production job. The music often lack energy (where has the energetic and adventurous drumming by Wojtek Szadkowski gone?) and Collage sound like they are playing it too safe. For such a long release, there simply aren´t enough standout tracks or hook laden memorable moments and some tracks drags on for too long without leaving much of a mark (the title track is for example a relatively tedious affair).

When that is said "Safe" is still a pleasant, warm, and organic sounding neo-progressive rock release and fans of the melodic and most mellow part of the genre should find a lot to appreciate here. A 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong, although it´s hard not be feel a little disappointed considering that "Safe" is the follow-up release to the brilliant "Moonshine".

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