NEVER TOO LATE

This is the second album from Tumbletown, a band made up of some musicians I am sure that many progheads will be familiar with. I remember Egdon Heath from their second album, 1991's 'The Killing Silence, and guitarist/bassist Aldo Adema was involved with that band for many years while keyboard player Erik Laan is from the mighty Silhouette and singer/guitarist Han Uil was with Aldo in Seven Day Hunt. The line-up is completed by drummer Arjan Laan. Musically this is crossover prog, and I can't work out if I keep being reminded of Roxy Music during 'Avalon' due to their classic song of the same name, of if there really are similarities during the chorus. The rest of the time they are nothing like Roxy, as they move through many different styles of progressive music from prog metal through symphonic and others, but always melodic and interesting.

But I have to confess that I am not a massive fan of the lead vocals, as there is something about them that jars with me. Some of the scanning is a little clunky as well, which can sometimes be an issue when people are recording in a language different to their own native tongue, but here it appears to be more of a problem than normal. There are also passages where it doesn't always gel together as it should, with the result being that one starts to wonder if there was an external producer involved, and quickly coming to the conclusion that there couldn't have been. It would be interesting to hear what someone like Karl Groom or Cllive Nolan would have done with this if they had been involved, as while the production is strong and clear, it is the arrangements that let this album down.

There are times when I feel that I am listening to a 4 or 5* album, and then there are others that make me wonder why I am playing it at all. Overall this isn't a bad album in that there are some great musical passages, but there just isn't the continuity and songwriting that makes me want to return to it again.