HOMELAND

LIKE WENDY might not get the highest ratings around here but man I love their sound.Very atmospheric and the vocals of Bert Heinen are some of the best i've heard. A good comparison to their sound would be MARILLION's "Somewhere Else" or "Happiness Is The Road". Not exactly fan favourites I know. This would be the first LIKE WENDY album to not have Marien on drums as the band goes from a duo to a solo project.There is some guest trumpet on one track though. Marc Brasse mastered this recording.

"The Crossing Cloud" opens with mellotron as a full sound joins in. Strummed guitar and vocals before 2 1/2 minutes. More mellotron late to end it. A great start. "Back To Earth" is moved along by this mid paced rhythm and we get vocals too. Spoken words and mellotron end it. "Homeland" the title track is also the longest at almost 13 minutes. A full sound a minute in with vocals. It settles back after 2 minutes with mellotron and reserved vocals before picking back up a minute later with synths.Vocals continue to come and go as the song winds it's way along.

"Last Day Of The Butterfly" is my favourite track. I just get lost in this one. It's so moving. Beautiful stuff. "Flood" has a beat with synths standing out then the vocals join in. Guest trumpet 3 minutes in. I like the way the sound echoes at times. Strummed guitar and waves end it. Great tune. "The Days Remaining" has this beat with atmosphere as the vocals join in. It picks up before 1 1/2 minutes as contrasts continue.Tasteful guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes. "Live Forever" features strummed guitar as vocals and synths help out in this uplifting final track.

Not the best LIKE WENDY album but one I highly recommend for fans of melancholic and atmospheric music.