VARIATIES OP EEN DAME

Flairck are hardly known outside their home country Holland. They might have reached a few Belgian ears as well but they certainly haven't dawned on the masses of PA yet. A shame really given how much potential their music might have amongst prog fans, especially amongst those to whom a mix of acoustic instrumentation and symphonic composition sounds alluring.

Flairck are a virtuoso acoustic instrumental quartet where each member plays a whole array of different mutations of his basic instrument. Erik Visser plays 6 and 12 string acoustic guitars. He also handles most of the song writing together with flutist Peter Weekers. Brother Hans Visser does acoustic bass guitars and the violin on this debut is caressed by Judy Schomper.

The music takes inspiration from both classical and flok/world sources, and due to the influences of Celtic music, there's some similarity to early Oldfield, be it in an entirely acoustic version, which is a plus as far as I'm concerned. Further similarities can be made with the softer side of Belgian chamber rock, with a band like Aranis for example. But it can't be compared to the more avant-garde and harsher sounds of Univers Zero. Flairck keeps things very melodic and harmonious, delicate and gentle. Which doesn't mean they don't play at raging speeds!

Their debut album is an exceptional career start, there's so much inspiration in the songwriting and arrangements that each of these tunes would become classic live staples for years to come. The execution and recording of the material is generally a bit better on the live albums but that might just be because I've only heard this album on my second-hand vinyl. I'm sure it sparkles and shines in the recently released boxset!