RETROPOLIS

I hope that the stupid "Rhythm of Life" which serves as an intro of this album will not set the pace... Where the hell did TFK get the idea of these table-tennis sounds ? I know that this sport is popular in Sweden but to this extent ?

The title track is a TFK classic. Complex as they can be (but holding this tendancy from Yes which I do not complain about). As I have said in my review of their first album, if Yes and ELP are amongst your fave, you have to give TFK a try. When they produce such good tracks, I really like them. It is all symphony and beauty, but all of a sudden, you will be brought to the nicest cacaphony you can think of. But this is also a TM of their masters.

Although it features a weird introduction, "Rhythm of The Sea" is full of the emotion I guess we all love in TFK. It turns as a pure bombastic and beautiful song at half-time. Such beauty is remarkable in their song-writting. I really love TFK during these incredible moments. A highlight here.

One of my fave on this album, will be "There is More to This World". Subtle keys, nice vocal harmonies (as it is usually the case with TFK songs). Roine's crystal clear voice sounds absolutely incredible. He delivers such a beautiful harmony ! This is TFK at his best. At least, this is how I love the band. during these moments, I just close my eyes and listen. And I like it a lot. Of course, the song is almost 100% Yes oriented. But when I discovered TFK I was so pleased to find a band that could still produce new music in a genre that I just could remember from ancient times, when I was young...

"The Melting Pot" is of course Crimsonesque. It is obvious that TFK revisits some of the repertoire of the greatest bands most of us love. You might call it plagiarism. It only brings me back to my youth and I am therefore grateful to TFK to have done so. Le reste, c'est de la littérature. Most of "Retropolis" is a combination of good numbers. "Silent Storm" and "Flora Majora" are other examples (the later being very close again to KC during the first half). TFK sounds really good almost from start to finish on this album. Weak numbers are not too many here (some short ones like the opener of course as well as "Retropolis by Night"). The brilliant "The Road Back Home" closes this album very nicely. This album is not easy listening music. If you would like to sit back comfortably and have an tranquil musical break, I shouldn't recommend "Retropolis" to you. It will transport you in the world of ELP and Yes. But I do not have so many objection to this fact (because it IS a fact) as others do. This album could have skipped some fillers to be a perfect one.

This one is a good effort. Four stars.