THUNDERSTRUCK

Although I've always liked Damian Wilson, both in THRESHOLD and in LANDMARQ, I think that LANDMARQ took a mighty big step forward when Tracy Hitchings replaced Damian on LANDMARQ's 1998 album "Science of Coincidence". Tracy has an emotional, beautiful and strong voice, and she proofs it one more time on this newly released live album, which is recorded live in Europe during 1998/99. For those of you unfamiliar with LANDMARQ, you could say that their music is neo-progressive with reminiscences to CAMEL, IQ, MARILLION, PENDRAGON and PINK FLOYD. The highlights are the beautiful ballad "Solitary Witness", the equally beautiful "Between Sleeping and Dreaming", "The Overlook" and the closing "Summer Madness". This is a well worthy live album, one of the better I've heard in a long time. It also has LANDMARQ's most beautiful cover up to date. Now we can only wait for a new studio album and a second live album, which is planned for 2000. Highly recommended!

For some reason, Landmarq have never really been one of the most fashionable of UK prog bands and I have never understood why that is. They have some great songs, and certainly can play well enough. Their debut album, 'Solitary Witness' was one of the best albums ever to come out on the Dutch SI label, and apart from Damian Wilson joining, leaving, joining and then leaving again, the line-up has been the same since inception. I first saw Tracy Hitching sing with the band at The Standard some years ago, when she and Clive Nolan joined them on-stage for the encore (the sight of Clive having to read the lyrics he had written from a CD booklet will always be with me), now she is back and she gives the music a different edge to when either Damian or Moon were at the front. I firmly believe that Tracy is one of the best female rock vocalists to come out of the UK (check out her solo album 'From Ignorance To Ecstasy'), and she gives the music just the right amount of lightness and balance. The result is that whether there is a full out barrage of music, or just gentle keyboards, the vocals are perfectly matched.

This is a great live album, one that showcases the bands' many talents and I am sure that it will win them a lot of new friends, as well as satisfying lots of old ones.