Alquin - Blue Planet (2005)

"Blue Planet" is the comeback album by Dutch music group Alquin. A reunion tour of Alquin was so positively received and the atmosphere between the musicians was so good, that they decided to enter the studio again to record a new album. Place of execution were the Park Studio in Amsterdam and The Schiehal in Delft. The album lets hear a mix of styles: from progressive rock to soul, almost like blues and other pop music. For lovers of Pink Floyd is an item hidden in the first track; the first showing of "Echoes" are played on a mockery in the bass guitar that resembles the basloop of Money.

Alquin anno 2005 has substantially the same occupation as the penultimate plate, "Best Kept Secret" (1976). Only bassist Walter Latuperissa is new within the group. He is a solid and flexible with Job Tarenskeen rhythm section and especially the basloopje in the instrumental opener, Return To The Blue Planet to feast. The rest of the tracks are sung and only now falls on what a great singer Michel van Dijk. His voice provides together with the sultry saxophone of Ottenhoff and the blissful Hammond-sounds of Funk for the soul-like atmosphere that the music of Alquin so hot.

With a whopping 14 songs of average length would be a conservative progfan might fear for too many ready-made pop songs with simple structure. But don't worry: Despite that each number according to the popformule is built, plays as soloist composer Ferdinand Bakker about continuously on his guitar and also with great class. Also the organ of Franssen seems constantly to purr and just about under each couplet I hear the pleasant blowing lots of Ottenhoff. Highlight is without doubt Terror Eyes. In terms of both sound and as regards the voting use of Michel van Dijk should I unwise to The waterboys thinking, which is meant as a compliment. It is a very varied and attractive number that falls into two parts. Especially the second part, with the strong ' riots on the street nothing on tv silence on the radio'-chorus, is very strong. Nice is also beautifully placed silence with that goose bumps causing saxophone solo afterwards.

"Blue Planet" is on the whole a very strong album, a fine album for traveling to faraway places.

Track listing

01.  "Return to the blue planet"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 6:01

02.  "Murder in the park"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 4:43

03.  "Over & out"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 5:53

04.  "The hitman"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 3:21

05.  "Falling"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 4:39

06.  "Love = a little thing"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 2:10

07.  "Terror eyes"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 6:18

08.  "2 days 2 nights"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 3:48

09.  "Pictures"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 4:14

10.  "Can't sleep"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 3:08

11.  "Enough = enough"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 3:43

12.  "Singapore Connection"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 5:09

13.  "Cherise"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 5:43

14.  "The Beach"  (F.Bakker, J.Tarenskeen)  - 5:54

Release:  september 15, 2005

Recorded At:  Park Studio, Amsterdam and The Schiehal, Delft

Label:  Universal Music

Genre:  Symphonic Rock

Total Time:  64:44

Producer:  Ferdinand Bakker

Personnel

Ferdinand Bakker - guitars, violin, piano, vocals

Michel van Dijk - lead vocals

Dick Franssen - Hammond, keyboards

Ronald Ottenhof - saxes

Walter Latuperissa - bass guitar, vocals

Job Tarenskeen - drums, vocals