RAINCHILD

This second LIKE WENDY album is very similar to the first: it is made up of simple, often short but rich melodious prog with original and highly memorable musical themes - as if the band (or rather BERT HEINEN) hadn't said it all on "The Storm Inside".

Starting off with the sound of waves, the album caresses the listener through out. "Drowned" is a slow melancholic track that picks up a bit with some psychedelic guitar flavour and nice keyboard arpeggios. "Colours of the Summer" is another slow number with a memorable tune, almost folk-like in its simplicity (think of the BEATLES' song "Let It Be") yet the arrangements and the heartfelt vocals by BERT HEINEN are most moving. "Spaces of the Deep" resembles "Drowned" but also features many themes and time changes as well as some really nice keyboard grooves. With "Underwater Voyager", you'll hear some poignant, albeit much too few, musical phrases. "Four Years" (my personal favourite) is perhaps the tune that best exemplifies what LIKE WENDY is about: this one is a short (6:37 min.) vocal track that is at once a blend of melancholia and high octane rock; again, very BEATLES like. And since we're into comparisons, I'll say that HEINEN's music reminds me very much of that of JOHN LENNON. Imagine (no pun intended here...) a blend of LENNON for the melodies and PENDRAGON for the arrangements. Finally, "The River" closes the album with yet another fine display of most melodious prog and rich wall-to-wall sounds.

I admit albums like these do have a shorter shelf life than the heavier prog material. But you always come back to them for some reason or other, and the magic works every time - like an old flame you keep falling in love with.

A continuation of the style as created on their debut album, Like Wendy prolong their Clepsydra style of neo-progressive rock, with beautifull keyboard passages, melodic guitars and soft lush arrangements, occasionally seasoned with some rocking passages, and accoustic interludes.

Very good album, maybe not the best from Like Wendy (Tales From Moonlit Bay get's that credit) but surely an enjoyable listening.

Try it and you'll like it, though they have made better albums.

Well, Dutch prog, what can you say about it in general ? My overall feeling is that it's nice, some Dutch bands are somewhat alike but of course they aren't all the same. Like Wendy is a typical Dutch band if you like. I first heard them thanks to progarchives streamed song: Falcon Suite. I liked it, I like most long epic songs and I thought, let's try one of their albums. It became Rainchild, no long epics on this one but still a very enjoyable album, all strong songs with good vocals and nice intrumental solos, nice gloomy like atmosphere, somewhat melancholy but in a pleasant way.

The better songs are Drowned, Spaces of the deep and Four years. The rest is good, though slightly less. Deservedly 4 stars.

Same team for this second album : the multi-instrumentalist Bert Heinen (the head and soul of "Like Wendy") and his mate Marien.

Very melodic songs are featured on this album like "Colours Of The Summer" ("BJH" during the vocals but spacey and Floydian instrumental parts), "Spaces Of The Deep" is fully neo : Banks-like synthesizers while they were four, with a heavier-slow pace. Still, it is combined with true ambient passages. A varied and good song, I have to say.

Unlike some other reviewers, I do notice some changes between this album and "The Storm Inside". The music is still pleasant, not too complex. But where "Barclay James Harvest" was the major source of inspiration of their first effort, the mood of this one is more "Floyd" oriented IMO.

Several intros or instrumental parts can even be related to "Lands End" and their "ocean-prog" music (like in the opening "Hymn" or obviously "Underwater Voyager"). The later being my favourite thanks to a fabulous guitar solo which ends this song. Gilmour seems to be a guest star here (but he's not of course).

This mix is particularly relaxing to listen to; even if some might feel like it is lacking some rhythm and sounds too much of the same but "Rainchild" is a tranquil journey into the abysses. Maybe that the very short transitional tracks (two) are not really necessary and I am not too enthusiast about "Skybound" either. But that's only a total of five minutes or so.

Some "Apocalpyse"-like keyboards (from who you know) during "Four Years" which is a bit heavier as well. But, as usual the pleasant vocal harmonies are "smoothing" this aspect.

The second part of this album is not as strong as the first one. This prevents me to rate it with four stars even if the closing song is extremely melodic and emotional.

Three stars. A good album.

I am an unapologetic admirer of Like Wendy from the debut album "The Storm Inside" onward. Just like Steve Wilson's latest transfixion with apathy, both with Porcupine Tree and even more so with Blackfield, the material is similarly focused with death, suicide, despondence and sheer distress. Bert Heinen's music simply contains those ethereal electrodes that recharge my musical brain, soaked in the richest melancholia, smooth atmospherics and tons of emotion on both the arrangement and the lyrical level. Complicated, it is not. Heavenly somber, very much so! Profoundly influenced by the childlike fairy-tale element that characterizes the early Genesis period, replete with sensual Hackettisms and suave keyboard palettes that has Banks stamped all over them. But Heinen's voice is a unusual breed altogether, far removed from the Gabriel-Collins-Fish credo, whereby his exalted vocal laments breathe sorrow and pain like a tormented soul in a most inventive style, a proggier version of the Cure's Robert Smith! Definitely a love him/hate him singer that may take a little practice, at least early on. As soon as the gist of the music becomes clear, the fit appears with sheer clarity. After the brief aquatic "Hymn" intro that sets the mood tempo from the outset, the swirling angst of "Drowned" hits deeply, with Bert's liquefied guitar bellowing graciously and acting as the release foil for a mournful musical pant that stirs the soul, a vocal chorus that majestically cries pain. This tune is simply exquisite in its fragile simplicity. The next piece "Colours of Summer", provides a slightly more pastoral atmosphere, with gentle acoustic guitar, sweeping synths, a delicate lead guitar solo that touches all the emoticons square on and another pulsating vocal from the leader. The next one is "Spaces of the Deep", the longest at just over 8 minutes, featuring some bold lead guitarisms, weeping, howling and forever enticing, spread over a carpet of forlorn keyboard tapestries and an exit finale with acoustic guitar, tambourines and some lucid string arrangements. "Underwater Voyager" resumes the prevalent aquatic theme, with moody piano and whistling synths, setting up the wistful vocal theme, cascading gently and finished off with a modulated sorrowful lead that raises the hair on your skin, simply rippingly agonizing. "1011"is a brief instrumental interlude that preps the quixotic 'Shadow of the Sun", a synth-led melody that provides a fanfarish approach to some more grief-stricken lyrics "What you live is what you love is what you leave", a supplication for peace after so much pain and a sullen mellotron draped curtsy, a drying tear in the corner of the mind. "Skymind" starts off inconspicuously, slowly evolving into an illusory atmosphere. "Four Years" is the other masterstroke here, a lushly emotive appeal, blending the gentle sway of idealism and the harsher presence of reality. The upward engrossing synth line underlines the contrasts with utter genius. An almost "classic" bluesy/rocky guitar led mid-section seals the deal, inviting the 'sizers back for another blast. The main chorus returns with sudden finality, just to nail the coffin shut. "Wings in the Fog", as the title implies keeps the flow going, vacillating melodies merging with ominous moods and finally leading to the final mooring, the simply splendid "The River". By now, you get to appreciate the style here but Bert surprises with a wrenchingly dirty, almost coarse guitar solo, adding some fine two-handed Hammond runs before slashing another luxuriant lead. If you like progressive that is heartfelt, highly personal, loaded with superb six-string flights in the Latimer- Hackett-Gilmour mode and gut wrenching melodies with a strong melancholic feel, you should try a combo from Like Wendy. Most of his discography is worthy of any prog collector. 4.5 slightly acidic tears

The second album of Like Wendy is probably not as strong as the debut album. However, the band (even though only two personnel only) seemed like maintaining their music style like the debut album: mellow melodic, using vocal as main melody while keyboard and guitar serves as rhythms section or fillers with nice solo. I was not impressed at the first two opening tracks "Hymn" (2:49) and "Drowned" (6:23) as they both sound bit boring to me, no energy at all from the music; it's just flow very slowly so that I am not patient enough to wait when the hike up is going to happen? It's a hike up like in Marillion's "Forgotten Sons" or "Hotel Hobbies" which I believe Like Wendy would make it. In fact, the third track "Colours Of The Summer" (5:59) is still in mellow style. This one surprises me with the fact that the intro part is somewhat similar with the intro of Kansas "Incomudro" especially on the notes that keyboard plays.

"Spaces Of The Deep" (8:07) starts nicely with catchy piano work followed with dragging vocal line. The keyboard solo in the middle of the track is stunning, especially when it's combined with guitar work. "Underwater Voyager" (7:00) also uses piano to start the song. The piano part takes quite a long duration, approx 1 minute, followed with acoustic guitar fills just before the music moves with drum work. The keyboard solo that happens at minute 2 is excellent and catchy. "Shadow Of The Sun" (6:23) has an upbeat style, in a way, driven by the keyboard work. The remaining tracks share similar style with the previous ones. One thing I like is the last track "The River" (7:00) where I can find great Floydian guitar at the opening part of the song followed with music in good flow and melody.

Overall, this is a good neo progressive album with all songs are mellow in nature. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

LIKE WENDY's second album continues where the debut left off with that similar style and sound. Bert Heinen who sings and plays guitar and keyboards is also credited with playing a distorted watermelon ?! After the list of thankyous we have this quote. "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways". Psalm 91:11. And under that we have these words. "This album is dedicated to the memory of my father". Two important quotes that have a lot to do with the lyrics here. And as I read the lyrics it really seems like this is about his feelings as he deals with his dad's death. Lots of mentions of angels and singing about memories. Water in some form or another is refered to a lot. More about these thoughts in my conclusion.

"Hymn" opens with the sound of water being splashed about then keyboards and reserved vocals take over. GENESIS-like pulasting organ follows as guitar joins in. Nice. Water sounds end it. "Drowned" opens with organ and a beat. Reserved vocals and keyboards join in as well. Love the guitar after 4 minutes and the rest of the way. I really like this melancholic track. "Colours Of Summer" features more melancholia with laid back vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, drums and sad synths. Some great sounding guitar 4 minutes in where it starts to pick up. Gulp. "Spaces Of The Deep" is piano,synths and fragile vocals. It picks up with drums and guitar before 2 minutes. Synths lead 3 minutes in. Lots of atmosphere after 4 1/2 minutes.Vocals after 5 minutes. "I Will Find" is a short instrumental. "Underwater Voyager" features piano and synths early on. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes with drums and guitar. Nice. It settles and vocals arrive.

"1011" is another short instrumental. "Shadow Of The Sun" is another melancholic tune lyrically and sometimes instrumentally. A stanza from "Colours Of Summer" is repeated at the end of this song. "Skybound" opens with the sound of crickets and acoustic guitars. Reserved vocals join in. A sad song lyrically. It turns spacey to end it with spoken word samples. "Four Years" has a beautiful, pastoral intro as vocals join in. Drums and a fuller sound follow. "Wings In The Fog" opens with acoustic guitar and bass as mellow vocals join in. This might be the most meaningful track when it comes to the lyrics. It explains a lot and is touching as well. "The River" sounds so good early on as the vocals join in. Nice guitar after 2 minutes.Vocals are back after 4 1/2 minutes. The last 1 1/2 minutes of instrumental music is gorgeous. Water sounds end it.

I wish I like the music here more because I think the lyrics are brilliant and very meaningful.The water seems to represent that place of intense sorrow. At one point the angel tells him he almost drowned as he tried to comfort him. In another place he sings "The river in my headlights goes on and on".Yes he's the Rainchild as he mourns his dad's passing. So while I like the music on the next two albums more there's something very special and meaningful here that cannot be ignored. Especially considering that I lost my dad so many years ago. It really does speak to me on an emotional level.

Just a year after the excellent ''The storm inside'',Dutch band LIKE WENDY comes back with a second release entitled ''Rainchild''.Same label,same line-up for this prog duo with founder,multi-instrumentalist and composer Bert Heinen handling all instruments except drums and some keyboards,handled by Marien.

''Rainchild'' marks no improvements or radical changes regarding the band's sound and actually that is a good thing.A full hour of Neo/Symphonic Prog music based on haunting atmospheres,slow spacey moments and a lyrical intensity.Heinen prooves to be an excellent composer,all tracks are of the highest quality with nice organ passages throughout,symphonic keyboars in the vein of COLLAGE and melodic guitar parts,not far from PINK FLOYD or early MARILLION.Vocals are even better than on the first release,more expressive,more dramatic and with Heinen trying to adapt a more personal style of singing.The final impression is more than posItive,especially when thinking that a single person can compose two splendid back-to-back works in such a short time.

For Neo Prog fans,please allow me to call this a masterpiece.But again if you like your prog music full of deep atmospheres and trippy soundscapes with an ultra-strong melodic content,you should simply dig this one out...4 solid stars.

Like Wendy is one of those neo prog bands that for some reson never made me listning to them again and again like other bands from this genre. I get as present two of their albums 8 years ago , this one , their second Rainchild and the next one Tales from the moonlit bay, listned couple of times and then I putet them on the shelf never touch the CD until quite recently when I want to re memeber the atmosphere they created. Well, the second album of this dutch band from 1999 - named Rainchild issued at small label LaBraD'or records is the kind of neo prog that a really don't dig a lot, not bad overall but to melodramatic for my taste and to much slow moments on every piece, the up tempo and more energic ones are almost totaly missing here. Anyway the band, the two members did a good job here, specially Bert Heinen who is responsable for some good guitar works remind me of Hackett and some ok keybords melted with the rest of the instruments, mainly the keyboards are more intresting then anything, even are not spectacular moments. Some Pendragon meets Genesis meets Hackett meets Collage is what they offer here, a mellow melodic kind of neo prog, as I said not bad for sure but to much same linear arrangements to my ears. The voice is pretty much ok most of the time, nothing really to talk about the tone of Bert Heinen voice, is ok nothing more. Forte pieces for me is Drowned, Colours of the summer and maybe one or two tracks from the ending album. So, Like Wendy is ok, they offer a pleasent neo prog yet quite unintresting for my ears, 3 stars is best I can give.