OVER AND OUT

Though the gap in releases by these Polish legends has just been reset after 26 years, one could be forgiven for not missing them all that much since their legacy, mostly engraved by the classic MOONSHINE from 1994, has been lovingly maintained in the interim by the likes of SATELLITE, BELIEVE and MR GIL. While their influence from early MARILLION has always dogged them, this formidable family of bands with interlocking members connects with me to a much greater extent, and with this comeback COLLAGE pay homage to their younger selves in their various guises, while grafting influences from bands like ALBION and MILLENIUM who might not have existed without COLLAGE in the first place. With 3 of the 5 previous members and a guitarist who could easily slot in next to the great Mirek Gil, not to mention the ever astounding leader and drummer Wojtek Szadkowski, this can't miss scenario absolutely delivers.

The album opens with the longest track in Szadowski's canon, the ambitious and suitably dramatic title cut with many phases of keys, guitars both acoustic and electric, and emotive vocals by newcomer Bartosz Kossowicz, who recalls the Robert Amirian days but with his own fresh personality. With a start like this, where can one go but down? Yet somehow "What about the Pain" is even better, recalling the best of the MOONSHINE album, and "One Empty Hand", beginning like one of MR GIL's soft ballads, evolves into a monster epic in their best traditions. "A Moment a Feeling" is only slightly below this level, not quite as engrossing and cohesive, but "Man in the MIddle" is truly the weak link, Steve Rothery's contributions notwithstanding, It's plodding and low energy, but maybe it's there to gain some MARILLION fans?

Does this spell the start of a new era for COLLAGE or is it a one off? Regardless, "Over and Out" proves that COLLAGE and its branches are neither. Sooo happy!