SHIP OF MEMORIES

I've had the album for maybe 15 years and only now I've realized it was a collection of outtakes. I'm glad that this effort took place because the selections are solid and no fillers. The recording years span 1970-1975 but mainly 1973 when the band were at their peak. The first album half dedicated to the classic classically-influenced symphonic prog with no excesses, making all the tracks rather brief. "P.S' March" is a typical guitar and flute-centric track with excellent guitar soloing. "Can't believe my eyes" is a hard-rock workout with guitar and bass taking the prime light. Van Leer is hardly heard. "Focus V" is a mellow track but feels unfinished. "Glider" is a witty mixture of the mid-70's rhythmic jazz rock structure and Hocus Focus singing. Akkerman is capable of shining in those styles as well. "Red sky at night" is my personal highlight due to a great melody and clear song structure, "Crackers" is the best product of the Focus jazz-rock era that also ended up on the Akkerman solo album in a longer version. Van Leer mainly in the back seat letting Akkerman and Ruiter release the steam. "Ship of memories" with harmonium sounds like coming out of an Italian prog album. A good goodbye to the classic Focus era.