SEQUENCES OF MY BEQUEST

I have mixed feelings about this album. Musically, they are good. While there is nothing spectacular, there is some good playing to be found here, no matter what style the band is playing in. And there are many styles. I can find some light symphonic prog, some straight ahead rock, some prog folk, and even a song that reminds me of Phish (I've Never Seen).

Lyrically, the group is interesting as well. They seem to bounce between serious, madrigal- like lyrics, and humorous, tongue-in-cheek verses, that sometimes almost get too silly.

It's the vocals that bother me on this album. The lead vocals are shared between three band members, Armin Bachhuber, Stefan Kugler, and Paul Braun, each with a distictive voice. Forgive me, but I don't know which is which. One has a good voice, very low key and mellow. Unfortunately, it's the voice heard the least on the album. The second is more theatrical and overblown, and to my ear, sound slightly off key.

The voice heard the most is the most troubling. He has that thin, reedy sound associated with Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, but without the control either Genesis singer had. Something like Fish on the earlier Marillion albums, but much worse. Too often, he sounds like he is whining, and just grates on my nerves.

3 stars for the music, but the vocals pull it down to a low 2.5.