MANGROVE - TOUCH WOOD - 2004

I knew the successor of this album way longer than the debut. I don't really like doing things the reverse way but alas, the damage is done. Doesn't really matter, the advantage is that I hardly could go wrong with this first release because I already knew by Facing the Sunset that Mangrove is an excellent Dutch progband.

That leaves us the comparison with the successor and that's an obvious thing for me. Even though this is a very fine debut it comes nowhere near their second studio album. It's nice in the sense that the potential really shines through already here and then I especially mean their by far strongest asset: the keyboards. And I don't even mean the execution (which is superb by the way) but mainly the terrific little solos these guys write for that instrument. They create a wonderful atmosphere with those instrumental passages and it's the main reason I really love this band.

Highlights are the opning Fatal Signs, Wizard of Tunes (must be autobiographical !) and the closing song City of Darkness. On these three the aspect I described is best present. The other songs prove that they were not fully mature yet because they let their Achilles Heel (vocals) dominate too much on those. And that's immediately the reason I will not give this debut the high score of 4 stars just yet. The successor did get them from me but that was completely justified. If I would also do that with this debut I would simply be overrating so it will be three stars. Still, if you like Facing the Sunset and don't know this one yet, it's recommended.
http://www.progarchives.com