PHOENIX

Earth And Fire´s "return" in 1989 was in fact little more than a continuation of singer Jerney Kaagman´s solo career since she is the only original member featured here (no sign of the the Koerts twins) and the songwriting team of Ton Scherpenzeel and Irene Linders is the same as it was her second solo album Run. Having said that, I must admit that the overall quality of the record is far superior than Earth And Fire´s last three CDs. At least this time the music they recorded here is excellent pop rock stuff that have stood much better the test of time (sole exception is Incognito, a terrible pastiche of 80´s cliches, but it is only one out of 12, so it is forgiven).

Her husband Bert Ruiter (yes, the same one who played bass on Focus during their heydays in the 70´s) plays here, but clearly the musical director of the entire disc is ex Kayak and once Camel keyboardist Ton Scherpenzeel. His synths are featured on all tracks, although guitarrist Age Kat does some nice work here and there too. Kaagman´s voice is on top form here proving once and for all that she is one of rock´s most underrated singers. While it is obvious that some tracks are better than others, they are all of high quality (with the exception of the aforementioned Incognito). I don´t know if this album was a hit, but it should. For it contains at least two sure top ten hits in the form of the opener Good Enough (very much in the vein of Phil Collins early stuff) and the beautiful ballad Keep On Missing You. The different Streets Of Shame and the uplifiting Winds Of Change are also highlights. Productioon is excellent too.

Paraphrasing my good friend and PA colleague KennethLevine, I can say that while this phoenix may not be exactly the progressive rock bird we have expected, what arose from the ashes of the group is still a very nice creature, with much more personality and quality than its forrmer old self from the early 80´s.

Rating: excellent pop rock album. A nice surprise after so much disapointment. For PA, 3 stars.