LOOKING FOR JOHN MADDOCK

Only my second review of a Flamborough Head album and that's strange since this is a high profile Dutch progrock band playing neo hinted symphonic prog. So that should be my cup of tea really but somehow I don't quite click with this band. Sometimes it's because of the lyrics and it also has to do with the way the guitarist plays his instrument. I had this same problem with K2 where Alan Holdsworth did his job. Technically it was great but I didn't like the sound. And that's the same thing here. Eddy Mulder is a very fine guitarist but I like it more smooth and clear sounding and that's not the case here. But mind you, that's just a personal thing.

What I don't have a problem with is the instrumental and melodic aspect of the compositions in general. That is absolutely of the highest quality with this band, also on this album. But I do have a bit of a problem with the lyrics at moments. They sound very cliché and I can see the words coming at miles distance. Maybe it's not easy for a Dutch band to write original lyrics in English and maybe I'm making too much of a big deal out of it, but it just annoys me a bit.

So some positive and negative aspects here but surveying the whole thing the positive prevails in the end. The musicianship is marvellous (flute and other wind contributions !) and the melodic compositions are great and inventive and deserve much respect. I'm a bit ambivalent about Margriet's voice. On itself it's a great voice but again here my personal feel for it is just not quite there. Hard to explain sometimes but it is what it is, can't help it. But again, the positive aspects are so strong the balance is turning to the good side and I will give four in the end (3,75). Also because I have a strong feeling many progfans will enjoy this album.