GENT

If someone asks me which is the best Dutch band, I usually come up with Kayak or Earth And Fire. However, sometimes I remember one very extraordinary track, which is on this CD/DVD, and that is Gent 4. "Gent 4" lasts over one half hour and it is one of the best Electronic tracks I know. If you want to compare it with something, it's very much like 'Sense' by Klaus Schulze (which is my favorite live track from anyone, ever!). Yes it is that good! Normally FSP is compared to Tangerine Dream, but this track is different. We have a slow building up where all members fiddle on their Modular Knobs to create a nice atmosphere, ranging from 'Sense' to 'Mirage'. Then Marcel Engels starts with a heavenly string theme on his Solina String Ensemble and the sequencers get going. A soft sequence with a low pace. The three musicians feel they are doing something special and are very inspired. Fantastic, but the highlight has yet to come... With a lot of Electronic bands you get some noodling on a C chord, but boy, what happens here! Frank Van der Wel plays a very intense keyboard solo improvisation lasting more than 10 minutes and the chords played by the others are heavenly floating around. If this is not enough, Ruud Heij starts playing on his Farfisa Synthorchestra, brrr. This is completely comparable to the quality of 'Sense' . So yes this is something you definitely should hear!

The rest of the CD/DVD is more the traditional FSP stuff: TD inspired, Rubycon like sequencing. Nice, but not as sensational or essential as Gent 4. The DVD is fun to watch, just three regular guys playing their wall of Modular with some pictures in the background. Also, there's a 'bonus' where you see them building up there Modulars - fun. But just seeing these guys perform my almost-best-ever track is a treat which I visit from time to time. 5 Stars evidently!