HOW TO MAKE IT

Fruitcake's debut was definitely an uneven release,containing plenty of excellent but plenty of dull moments as well.This was however enough for the band to be signed by Cyclops Records,leaving the small Briskeby Records.In the meantime the band was recording the second full-length album with two session guitarists,Jon Barstad and Robert Hauge,as original member Steffen Holthe was called to fullfill his army season.

The 1994 ''How to make it'' is musically a slight development over ''Fool tapes''.The orientation of the band is now bright in their minds,Progressive Rock with a big time retro feeling and some Neo Prog styles thrown in.The tracks are rather short but the sound is mostly excellent in the familiar Fruitcake style,slow tempo arrangements with symphonic leanings based on atmosphere and melody.Influences are also clear,GENESIS,PINK FLOYD,IQ and ANGLAGARD are the most obvious ones.The keyboard work is absolutely great,nice vintage organ passages and careful use of synths,while the session guitarists have plenty of good ideas as well.But the main problem of the band is always there: the vocal section,which is pretty average,if not bad with both Seland and Sovik having very mediocre and unexpressive voices.If this band had a better man behind the microphone,they could produce a really great album,at least regarding this release.

So things are more than clear.Musically the band offers a lot of highlights and the general style is not original but definitely quite personal.But if good vocals are a main element in your preferences,you will be rather dissapointed.Even so,''How to make it'' is a decent listening in my books.Recommended.