UNKH

This Dutch quartet are a new name to me, but apparently 'Innerverse' is their second album, following up on 2014's 'Traveler'. Comprising Jeroen Habraken (keyboards, vocals), his brother Maarten Habraken (drums), Matthijs van Nahuijs (bass) and Maarten Peerlings (guitar) have taken a love of Seventies progressive rock and then lifted that into something for the 21st Century. They have taken influences such as Yes (love their use of Mellotron), King Crimson and Camel and then allowed their imaginations to wander. Two lengthy songs bookend the album, with three relatively short ones in between, and although they're not an instrumental band they're not afraid of lengthy instrumental passages. Jeroen has an interesting voice, reminiscent at times of a young Peter Gabriel, which works incredibly well with the music, especially when they approach it from the style of 'Trespass'- era Genesis.

But it is the complex instrumental sections that really take the ear, as every member of the band is given the opportunity to be the lead in his own right, and the approach (especially when combined with some wonderfully dated keyboard sounds) really does make one feel that it is the Seventies all over again. The music twists and moves, sometimes repeating melodies, but often creating new musical pathways to spur the listener on. This is a wonderful musical journey, so much to listen to and delight in, yet there is always the feeling that there is a real purpose to what is happening, a destination always in mind. The use of a strong bass that refuses to be held back, and often provides an additional melody line to that of the guitar and keyboards is inspired. It creates far more depth and power, adding additional layers of complexity. The vocals have been deliberately kept back in the mix, so that they aren't as dominant as they otherwise could be, and that is another ploy that definitely works to their advantage, as it combines with the instruments as opposed to attempting to dominate them. There are also some incredibly fluid and enthralling guitar licks, as the guys show that they haven't forgotten that the second word in the genre description is 'rock'. This is definitely an album that needs further investigation.