MODERN MASQUERADES

"Modern Masquerades" is the fourth full-length studio album by Northern Ireland, Belfast based progressive rock act Fruupp. The album was released through Dawn Records in November 1975. It´s the successor to "The Prince of Heaven's Eyes" from November 1974 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as keyboardist Stephen Houston has been replaced by John Mason (the former left to become a clergyman). "Modern Masquerades" was produced by Ian McDonald (King Crimson, McDonald and Giles, Foreigner), who also plays alto saxophone and percussion on the album as well as acting as arranger.

Releasing four album releases between October 1973 and November 1975 is quite the achievement in itself, but stylistically and quality wise Fruupp also kept a steady quality level and "Modern Masquerades" is overall a another good (if not exactly spectacular) progressive rock release from the band. They play a well composed, well performed, and relatively well produced type of progressive rock, which although it´s of a fairly good quality, doesn´t stand out much on the early- to mid-70s British progressive rock scene. But taking into consideration how hard the competition was, it´s no science figuring out that not all artists would break through and held against artists like Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, and Jethro Tull, Fruupp just couldn´t reach those heights.

After wrapping up their tour supporting "Modern Masquerades" in Manchester in February 1976, Fruupp started working on what was to be their fifth full-length studio album (tentatively titled "Doctor Wilde's Twilight Adventure"), but the album never materialized and Fruupp disbanded at the end of 1976 with no further releases under their belt. Citing poor album sales and a change in the musical climates as the reasons for their demise.

Upon conclusion "Modern Masquerades" is a good quality swansong for Fruupp and they can rightly be proud of the output they had in their active period from 1971-1976 (and the hundreds of concerts they played in Britain and in mainland Europe). But as described above there is a reason why they are seldom mentioned among the tier 1 progressive rock artists of the 70s. They just aren´t up there with the greatest. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.