FRUITCAKE - ROOM FOR SURPRISE - 1996

The amazing cover art is actually a painting titled "Fishermen at Sea" from 1796. The lyrics often seem to be from the view point of a soldier.The music is clearly from the neo camp and is mostly slow to mid paced with the keys/synths/piano dominating the sound. I did think of GENESIS and PINK FLOYD but these guys really have their own unique sound.The music seems so simple and straightforward as it often plods along,but it has a hold of me big time.It's cool that the keyboard player is a female(Siri) she also sings lead on a couple of tracks.The leader of the band is the drummer/vocalist Pal Sovik who wrote all the lyrics and helped to compose all the music. "Time To Go" is a slow moving track with lots of synths and light drums.Crying synths to open and later at 4 1/2 minutes.Vocals are almost spoken by Pal. Lightning cracks after 5 1/2 minutes.Very cool song. "Tall n Dark" is a more energetic track with lots of keys.It's quite catchy,a toe tapper.Vocals a minute in.Waves of synths and steady drumming throughout.Nice guitar melody 3 minutes in. "Keep The Light" features Siri on vocals as synths pulse.Pal helps out with backup vocals.A fuller sound a minute in, and it sounds fantastic.This contrast continues.This is fairly slow paced.A tasteful guitar solo 3 minutes in. "Room For Surprise" opens with the sound of running water and drums.Vocals and keys come in.It becomes a catchy little mid-paced tune.The guitar provides some rawness to the soundscape. "Touch The Sky" opens with mournful synths.Drums come in as the tempo picks up a notch.Vocals are next.A more powerful soundscape briefly 2 minutes in.Guitar and keys shine.It settles down 4 minutes in as synths wash and a killer guitar solo plays over top.Back to the mid-paced melody before 6 minutes.More waves of sound 7 1/2 minutes in and later to end it.The best song on here in my opinion. "Hunting Old Ladies" like the band's name tends to make me cringe.Haha.They have a sense of humour anyway.This is the only instrumental on here.Banks-like pulsating synths with drums early.A beautiful sound 2 minutes in as synths wash and piano comes in.Pulsating synths are back.Some nice fat bass 3 1/2 minutes in. "Golden Age" features vocals,drums and waves of synths.The guitar 2 1/2 minutes in to the end is outstanding. "The Famous Hill" is another favourite of mine.This one is brighter with guitar and keys standing out.Vocals after 2 1/2 minutes when melody stops and waves of synths wash in.It kicks back in a minute later.Another calm 5 1/2 minutes in as vocals,synths and piano take over.I'm reminded of FLOYD when the guitar comes soaring in with synths in the background. A "Whisper" opens with piano and background synths.Soft female vocals come in.Drums and a fuller sound 1 1/2 minutes in.The contrast continues.I like the guitar after 3 1/2 minutes.A synth solo followed by bass after 5 minutes.The guitar is very well done again as the vocals return 7 minutes in. This is one of thos
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