THE LOST TAPES

If ever you would like to take a journey into the "Genesis" world, "Plackband" might well be for you. I only discovered this Dutch band recently while I was attending a show of "The Musical Box" (a fantastic "Genesis" tribute band) in Amsterdam. Plackband" was the support act and their short half an hour set was rather convincing and pleasant to listen to for an old nostalgic as I am (which is the case of 100 % of the crowd attending such concerts).

Actually, several tracks of this album are quite influenced by the masters to say the least (a bit too much IMO). The opener is also a kaleidoscope into the giant's repertoire : some notes of "I Know What I Like" to start, demonstrative vocals a la PG (in the style, not in the voice), fully Banks oriented keyboards and a Hackett solo. And the song get back to "I Know what I Like" at the end. All this in eight minutes! Another example being "End Of The Line" for instance. A clone of "Squonk".

"The Good Earth" is the longest song featured on this live album which was recorded long ago. It is probably the most personal one, but too much extended with passionless soli.

My favorite song out here is "Sign Of The Knife". It opens on a long and sweet instrumental part, fully Gabriel-esque vocals this time and lots of emotional symphonic breaks. The last song "Seventy Warriors" is the most rocking one. The lead singer will introduce to song in Dutch and tells us that it was a self-released single by the band. Tony Banks seems to be a guest here on the synthesizers.

"Plackband" is not a very original band of course, but once in a while it is pleasant to listen to this work. You have to accept though that the sound of the masters is "borrowed". Due to the old age of these songs (late seventies), this album belongs more to the symphonic genre than the neo-prog one.

Three stars.