RETROPOLIS

Here is the second official outing by TFK, which is perfectly in line with the predecessor "Back in the World of Adventures". This one will not disorient you, if you have enjoyed the first. It is another very good production, very symphonic, which is their trade-mark, where all the music is easy-listening and very melodic. You can find again odd-rhythm stuff, characterized again by about half of instrumental (if you like that, better get the first two, because after, there is more lyrics everywhere). And again, the long tracks (6 min +) are the best.

It opens with original tennis-table sounds !! To close on the accident... I love specifically "Retropolis", a typical TFK construction; "There is more to this World", which is a very popular song by the group, where they perform it at about every live performance, good sound, good voices, climax, etc; "Silent Sorrow", another poppy song, with very good expression; "Flora Majora", a nice and clean instrumental; and "Judas Kiss", with a breath- taking crescendo at the end, where the tones are constantly changing (my favorite on the album). The other ones.... are responsible for the 4-star note, instead of 5. Anyway, interesting music, very diverse, if you want to find a positive aspect.

Retropolis is an excellent album, for which I would go (instinctively) for 3.9 (...); but better ones have followed along the way. In my classification system, there are a couple of 5-stars opus in their production, where I have still a lot of pleasure to put on the CD-table. The present one, at about 4, is still an interesting addition to

The group TFK is, in my mind, a 'must' in sympho-modern-prog of the years 2000. They produce a lot (hey, how about a new CD soon !! ; Roine : turn back to your TFK-group) and they are already seen as a "classical" group. Including this CD, when I want to turn to secure prog, after listening to a lot of various sub-genres and what goes out on prog-radios.... I think to TFK. And I am never bored. Far from that : I find them as my favorite all-around modern prog group !