ETCETERA

3.5 stars. ETCETERA were a band from Denmark who got their start in the 80's as High School friends. This particular recording was made in the second half of the 80's but not released until the late 90's. They are a duo of guitar and drums here but the drummer adds vibes and the guitarist a lot of things including a variety of keyboards, bass and lead vocals. Now there really isn't a lot of vocals on here and we get a guest female vocalist on that second track which reminds me this record consists of two side long suites of over 21 and 15 minutes respectively.

Speaking of guests we get sax on both suites while the first track we get piano, organ and flute while synths and those female vocals help out on track two. This is obviously an ambitious recording and adventerous too for their first release. I just find both suites hit and miss even though I did consider 4 stars at one point early on.

"Dance Of The Demons" doesn't have vocals until after 14 minutes and before that we get flute, piano and organ standing out then a drum solo out of the blue before 3 minutes before the organ and jazzy guitar leads take over. I'm not into that sax at all makes me think of Saturday Night Live. A calm with flute and piano around 8 minutes before a change at 11 minutes with fast pulsating organ before it settles with guitar, bass and drums which I like. Nice guitar solo to follow then those male vocals arrive. More organ and guitar as this plays out then vocals and a lighter sound before 19 minutes.

"Experience" has male and female vocals to start before she takes over and I'm just not into her singing but this changes 2 minutes in with cycling synths with bass and light beats. Guitar will replace the synths but not for long. Nice guitar after 4 minutes. Vibes only after 7 minutes then another change as we get jazzy sax along with bass and piano to follow. Female vocals are back to be replaced by the guitar then it's heavier after 13 minutes.

A pretty good album showing a young duo with that adventerous spirit on display in spades. Worth a listen.