TO THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE

It seems to me that around the time this album was made, Earth And Fire finally realized they would never be a ´proper´ symphonic prog band like their english peers and decided to do their own thing. Maybe that´s why this CD is still very progressive and yet quite different. Overall To The World Of The Future sounds less forced than their previous effords and the flow is much more even. The opener is the title track, a 10+ minute epic with several mood and tempo swings, great male and female vocal interplay, fine and varied instrumental parts. So varied indeed, it´s almost a schizofrenic song, but somehow it works. It is like the group´s statement over the album: if it sounds good to us, anything goes!

The rest of the CD is in the same vain: light acoustic stuff (How Time Flies), an interesting mix of jazz rock and Camel (the instrumental The Last Seagul), the prog meets pop of Only Time Will Tell, the impossible to label Vote From Yonder (again several different parts in one song, all linked by the catchy chorus), the prog funk Love Of Life (great female vocal performance by singer Jerney Kaagman) and the Queen-like Circus (so corny arrangements at some parts you have to believe they are being ironic). Once more you can´t deny the brilliant musical prowness of all band members, the origianl and esquisite arrangements and the powerhouse vocal delivery of Kaagman, unfortunalty a very underated vocalist. Sound quality overall is excellent.

Conclusion: either loving it ou hating it, this album proves the band finally found its particular kind of music. Still very progressive and interesting, even if the ´traditional´ elements of symphonic rock were left aside a bit. It´s accessible, but it´s also bold and quite original. That´s progressive in the true sense of the word.

Rating: 4 stars.