11

La Cathedrale de van Leer

Focus is back with a new album! Being a fan of the band, I pre-ordered their 11th studio album and have been playing it a lot since it arrived about a month ago. I thoroughly enjoy Focus 11, as will anyone who enjoyed Focus 8, 9, and 10. If you heard those previous few albums, you pretty much know what to expect here. The musicianship is impeccable and the sound is 100% Focus. Thijs van Leer is the leader of the band and responsible for composing all of the album's material with the sole exception of Mare Nostrum which is credited to bassist Udo Pannekeet. Drums are again handled by Pierre van der Linden, and guitars by Menno Gootjes.

Fittingly enough given its chronology, Focus 11 features 11 tracks. How Many Miles? is the only cut that features lyrics, the rest being instrumental with occasional vocal acrobatics from van Leer (though, no yodelling this time!). A few of the numbers are recycled, including opener Who's Calling? which originally appeared on the 1985 Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer collaboration album Focus. The original CD version of Who's Calling? is 16 plus minutes (while the vinyl LP has a shorter version), but this new version is only 5:28. Winnie and Clair-Obscur were previously included on The Focus Family Album, which came out a couple of years ago.

The cover art is by the great Roger Dean which is instantly recognizable. This time he has drawn a church. Looking closely, one can see the crosses on the spires and the mosaic glass windows typical of churches. There's even a minister standing in the door, welcoming a visitor. However, there seems not to be any religious theme to the music itself.

Another good Focus record, and a recommended addition to any comprehensive Focus collection.

Here we are in 2019 with a new Focus album, with a Roger Dean cover, and although they were formed some fifty years ago the band is still showing no signs at all of slowing down. Led of course by the incomparable Thijs Van Leer on keyboards/flute/vocals (just one song has vocals, the rest are instrumental), the line-up also includes drummer Pierre van der Linden who made his first appearance with the band on 'Moving Waves' back in 1971, while guitarist Menno Gootjes has long been proving that he is perfectly capable of standing in Akkerman's shoes and making them his own, with just Udo Pannekeet making his debut appearance on bass.

I am sure every proghead has at least some Focus in their collection, but the last album I heard prior to this one was '8', which was released back in 2002. That album definitely had some high points, but also some lows, but from the first song to the last this one really captured my attention. There are moment when all four musicians appear to be taking the lead, and there is some sumptuous fretless bass to be found, and ven der Linden sounds as if he should be in a jazz band as he pointedly refuses to follow any normal convention as he provides full and nuances at every opportunity without overcrowding the music. Although van Leer is often at the front, he can also be found providing support to Gootjes who has a wonderfully clean and clear sound as he noodles away in perfect harmony with everyone else. This album is a delight throughout, is the most consistent and downright enjoyable of theirs I have ever come across. Simply superb.