Progressive rockers The Flower Kings new double album Islands is released via InsideOutMusic. Consisting of 21 songs (1 hr, 35 min, 48 sec) the LP offers the band's trademark sounds and melodies, including vintage keys, full-on guitar solos, odd drum patterns and symphonic elements...

If you've never experienced The Flower Kings then strap yourself in, for you're in for a wild ride. The band are a throwback to '70s rock, bringing to mind very early Genesis (I'm thinking of their Duke era) and Journey - in fact there are a handful of instances when I could feel the spirit of Steve Perry shining through.

Islands is diverse in both genre and instrumentation. At times it feels like a rock opera on the scale of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds ('Heart Of The Valley'), while at other times it's presented as a low-key, mellow orchestrated musical ('Goodbye Outrage'). But in general, it's produced in the style of a '70s prog rock album... with a hint of sci-fi.

This is a thoroughly engaging and well put together release and while it's best to listen from start to finish, it's just as easy to dip in and out of.

9

Nick Smithson