JUMPING THE MILESTONE

While neo-prog bands from the Netherlands have been catching up to the English scene that started all the way back in the early 1980s, most of the bands emerged after the dawn of the 21st century but a scant few set up shop in the 1990s. As far as i can tell only Odyssice, Like Wendy and this band FLAMBOROUGH HEAD started that far back with this Dutch band from Leeuwarden forming as far back as 1993 however it would only be 1998 that the band would see its debut "Unspoken Whisper" joining the ranks of its British counterparts.

FLAMOROUGH HEAD had been pretty consistent in releasing seven albums from 1998 - 2013 even having released two in 2001 but then with the release of its previous album "Lost In Time" went silent for almost a decade. The band returns nine years later with JUMPING THE MILESTONE which finds the trio of Margriet Boomsma (vocals, flute), Koen Roozen (drums) and Edo Spanninga (keyboards) returning however guitarist Gert Polkerman has been released with Hans Spitzen and bassist Marcel Derix likewise has been replaced by Eddie Mulder.

Despite a near decade lull in activity the band picks up right where they left off with its classic neo-prog sound. JUMPING THE MILESTONE features six tracks all of a length exceeding seven minutes with two, the opening "The Garden Shed" and the closing title track both exceeding ten. Anyone familiar with this band will know what to expect. The classic neo-prog soaring guitar riffing techniques fairly ubiquitous in that nook of the prog universe along with some ambitious key workouts more reminiscent of Emerson, Lake and Palmer at times more than Arena or IQ. The band exists in a dreamy folky realm of the neo-prog world but isn't afraid to rock out either. "Start Of A Nightmare" showcases some upbeat rock guitar heft with some sizzling soloing as well.

Keyboardist Edo Spanninga is at the top of his game with a virtuoso's ear of layering synthesized atmospheres to the guitar, bass and drum rhythmic foundation along with some moments of bravado that allows some of those classic prog synthesizer melting antics. For the most part this is more on the folk side of the equation with a mellow nonchalant reserved display of down-home family friendly G-rated entertainment. Nothing ever gets too wild, no risks are taken and everything is pretty much neo-prog by the books that ticks off every aspect of the genre and carries it out nicely. The addition of the flute is what puts this squarely in the neo-folk-prog subcategory.

As much as i try this is a band i find underwhelming. Margriet Boomsma lacks the required vocal dynamics and charisma to be an engaging lead vocalist and sounds better suited for an American country rock band honestly. The weakest feature of FLAMOROUGH HEAD is the lackluster performances of drummer Koen Roozen who serves as a metrometer and never offers any style of percussion that differs from the mere basics. I was hoping that after nearly a decade FLAMBOROUGH HEAD would up its game but it seems that this band is content existing in its own world that is oblivious to the modern standards that make a great neo-prog album. By no means a bad album. If you enjoy more intimate sounding music then you will like this more than i do but as far as my enjoyment value is concerned i find this album average at best.