CHILDREN'S GAMES

LORIEN were a Neo Prog band from England who released this sole album back in 1994. They formed in 1989 as a duo of guitar and keyboards, writing and composing songs, before getting serious and placing an ad in Melody Maker which got the attention of one Sean Filkens. He was in a Psychedelic band called SOMA at the time and he along with the drummer from that band joined the ranks of LORIEN, followed by the hiring of a bass player. We have a five piece.

With Filkens sounding like Jon Anderson here, it's a rare chance to hear a Neo Prog album that has a strong YES flavour. MARILLION and GENESIS too, and this is often pastoral and light, and as the Bio states it brings "Wind And Wuthering" to mind, an album I do not care for. Still, I'm drawn to their sound. A melodic slab of Neo that seemed to fade from history rather quickly. Was it the album cover? Sort of a BLIND FAITH thing happening but with that title, I just want to run from this to be honest. I just am confused with the whole thing. Even the picture of the band looking like a Prog Metal band with plenty of attitude seems out of place. It's the music that counts though, and while I appreciate their sound, this is not a four star record in my world.

Sean would go on to play with BIG BIG TRAIN making them better as he came in on their 2004 album "Gathering Speed" along with the next one "The Difference Machine" before moving on from that band. He helped elevate them, but that elevation would be even steeper with the next two records after he left called "The Underfall Yard" and "English Electric(Part One)". Oh, and Filkens released a very good solo album in 2011 called "War And Peace And Other Short Stories". As far as "Children's Games" goes, all I have is 3 stars.