THE DIFFICULT SECOND

With a very telling title, here comes Etcetera sophomore release. This Danish foursome is not very well known but should be: they play some great 70´s influenced music that does not sound dated. In fact, the album starts very well, with the 17 minute suite Trespasser: terrific keyboards runs all over it (Hammond, electric piano, moog..) and some fantastic bass and guitar parts. It reminded me of the early Flower Kings, even if the Genesis influence is more prominent here.

Then they complete change the style with the totally folk The Hunter. Good, but maybe a little too folky and derivative for my taste. The same thing happens with the Jethro Tull-like Frosty Days (it´s ok, but almost to the point of being a rip off JT around the time of Stormwatcher). The symphonic prog returns with the instrumental Suite no. 1 for 4 piece rock band (another title that tells it all!). Very good one by the way, with again some fine 70´s influenced electric piano, nice electric guitar lines and great bass solo at the last part. The CD finishes with another major change of style, this time with the jazz-rock fusion of Erractic Behaviour (another instrumental piece).

In the end The Difficult Second proves only that the band is still trying to find their personal sound. Even if the band has more than capable musicians and the right influences, they could not deliver a CD that has a coherent whole. Each track gives the impression of being recorded by a different group of musicians. The potential is there and the very fine two tracks are proof of that. I´m looking forward to hear their latter releases and see if they developed into something of their own. Final rating: something between 3 and 3,5 stars.