FIN DE SIECLE

Denmark is such a unique country when it comes to our music. My favourites from here tend to be Jazz related and Psychedelic. Symphonic music is rare in Denmark with ACHE contributing to that sub-genre in the early 70's then ZARAGON with that one record in the 80's then this band ETCETERA giving us three studio albums in the late 90's and one in the early 00's. They began as a duo(high school friends) who were inspired by a JETHRO TULL concert and this was in the mid 80's but it wasn't until 1998 that we got their self titled debut along with their second aptly called "The Difficult Second" (haha). The following year in 1999 we got their best album up to this point "Fin De Siecle".

There are three or four musicians who played on the first three albums sometimes listed as guests sometimes as members but the one constant is Frank Carvahlo the guitarist, keyboardist and composer. I gave their debut 3.5 stars but for me "Fin De Siecle" is a step up in many ways with some surprises as well. The negative is the programmed drums although we get Johnny McCoy an original member(along with Frank) adding drums on two tracks and he's listed here as a guest. So I have a top four while the title track which is the closer, that second track "Infinite Chords" and the fourth song "Vuggevise" just landing outside of my favourites.

"Charles Unhealthy Pictures" brings GENESIS to mind right away but that changes and vocals arrive at 1 1/2 minutes. Nice upfront bass and backing vocals too. I really like this. Synths then organ and how about that distorted organ around 4 1/2 minutes and later at 6 minutes sounds amazing, so Canterbury. "Gongtric" is a mid paced track with some depth although it mellows out before 3 minutes as melancholic synths arrive. Nice. There's a MOVING GELATINE PLATES moment after 5 minutes. You know the "Three blind mice... see how they run" part? Of course you do. Some heavier guitar before 6 minutes.

"Anagrams" is the long one at over 12 minutes and the surprise here is hearing what sounds like a Steven Wilson ballad from his solo work. What!? You should hear the vocals and sound here you'd be pretty shocked and this is 1998. Listen 3 minutes in and around 6 minutes in. Great track the way themes are repeated and I like the spacey bits. Final top four is "Absolute Dance Party III" with the electronics making this one different from the rest. It's also more experimental and there's some sampled words, a unique song.

A solid 4 stars from where I sit and my favourite Symphonic record from Denmark.