20 YEARS AFTER

Right in the opening track "Three's A Crowd" played as a trio, the band show their analogue muscles. After a short introduction on polyphonic synths, the screaming and fat sounding Moogs batter and tear up your eardrums, only accompanied in a simple but effective way by the bass and drums. The Moogs are alternated with a roaring Hammond and a hammering rhythmic electric piano. After a short reprise of the initial theme, the song evolves into a magnificent symphonic theme, dominated by a beautiful synthesizer lead over a solid string ensemble. A great way to open an album.

Following is a beautiful and touching acoustic song, giving room to a beautiful grand piano and a well-arranged section, consisting of a flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon, excellently sung by Marion Brinkman-Stroetinga.

Again keyboard-player Erik de Beer leads the way on his monophonic Moog monsters in the title track "20 Years After", another pulsating song with this time also a role for a beautiful concluding melodic an wailing guitar lead.

Then it's off for the main attraction, an over one hour lasting musical epic telling the adventures of a one eyed little bloke, who has to confront both the setbacks of the communistic system of equality and the silliness of fashion dictated capitalism.

Throughout the story the beautiful voice of Marion is singing the adventures of Duplo and his true love Unica. This true tale of Duplo the Equivalent is a genuine oasis full of analogue keyboard sounds. To find out, you can check out the main theme right away, or skip to songs like "Working On The Mountain", "Life In The Individual State Of Ridicula" and "Same Old Song". To spice up the sound of the band the earlier mentioned woodwind section intervenes every now and then in perfectly arranged interludes. There is also ample room for the electric guitar to display some beautiful and very melodic leads.

The album ends with a catchy adaption of an Italian folksong, featuring a genuine string section and again the superb dazzling analogue synth leads by Erik.

Trump cards on this album full of straight forward and melodic symphonic rock, are the warm and touching voice of singer Marion and the fantastic seventies' style analogue keyboard wizardry by Erik and let's not forget the woodwind section. Highly recommended!

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