PRESENT FROM NANCY / TO THE THE HIGHEST BIDDER

I used to erroneously believe that another Dutch band (Earth and Fire) were some kind of funk band, and that this Dutch band was a disco band fashioned after Rick James! ;-) So much for questionable choices in band names.

First, the negatives: The cd cover art here is lousy, and you get basically zero information in the liner notes about the band or the making of these albums; that would have been a nice plus. But I don't mark off for it...

The big positive is that you get two fantastic albums (probably the band's two best) in one affordable package. And this is a band that should be known to all progressive lovers. If you're a fan of Canterbury bands like Caravan and Hatfield & the North, this should please you. Lots of flute and sax, and the vocals are well done - I'm not even a huge fan of the wackier or "avant garde" stuff out there, but I do find this band a joy to listen to. There's a fair amount of dissonance and jazzy rock moments, especially on the "To The Highest Bidder" half of the cd. That second album seems to be a little more mature or thought out, but I love the way the first album ("Present From Nancy") sort of segues seamlessly from track to track. This is very fun progressive music with a surprising show of virtuosity and songwriting. Find it cheap someplace and give yourself a "present to the highest bidder"!...