ATLANTIS

Earth and Fire was a major Dutch band that went through the adapted to the musical fashions it live through; starting as a psychedelic rock band, turning into a symphonic prog band in the early seventies and ending up being an electric funk-pop group towards the end of its career. Lead singer 'Jerney Kaagman' has a distinct untrained but outspoken voice, which is both the bands main attraction and its Achilles heel. The compositions are full of organs and mellotron by Gerard Koerts and the melodic rock guitar of his brother Chris Koerts sound fine as well, though neither sound as fully formed as for instance the musicians of Focus, Finch or Kayak. For an album released in 1973 it sounds already quite dated, with a sound that is perhaps best compared to Genesis' 'Trespass' album from 1970. Yet, despite its obvious flaws, I would recommend seeking out Earth and Fire's two symphonic prog albums. 'Atlantis' has a side-long suite about the fall of Atlantis with some catchy vocal moments, Abba-like sympo-pop and symphonic prog galore. I prefer the second side, which opens with the hammond organ-drenched hit 'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight'. My favorite songs of the album are however the moody Crimsonian 'Interlude / Fanfare' which revives that darker 'Storm and Thunder' vibe and the intense ballad 'Love, Please Close The Door'. With the voice of Kaagman often on the point of breaking up the band does deliver a cerebral performance that sticks by. My guess is that you have to be either a Dutchman yourself or particularly sensitive to Earth and Fire's drift to enjoy this album, but it surely is a keeper for me.