Label: Kayak

Tracks:

1. Merlin (7:50) (Scherpenzeel)
2. Tintagel (2:49) (Scherpenzeel)
3. The Future King (2:58) (Koopman)
4. The Sword in the Stone (3:43) (Scherpenzeel)
5. When the Seer looks away (4:18) (Koopman)
6. Branded (3:51) (Scherpenzeel)
7. At Arthur's Court (3:15) (Scherpenzeel)
8. The Otherworld (7:59) (Koopman)
9. The Purest of Knights (5:48) (Scherpenzeel)
10. Friendship and love (5:13) (Scherpenzeel)
11. The King's Enchanter (2:31) (Scherpenzeel)
12. Niniane (Lady of the Lake) (7:08) (Scherpenzeel)
13. The Last Battle (8:11) (Koopman)
14. Avalon (3:44) (Scherpenzeel)

Musicians:

• Ton Scherpenzeel / keyboards, backing vocals
• Pim Koopman / drums, backing vocals
• Bert Heerink / lead & backing vocals
• Rob Vunderink / guitars, lead & backing vocals
• Bert Veldkamp / bass guitar
• Joost Vergoossen / electric & acoustic guitars
• Cindy Oudshoorn / lead & backing vocals

Kayak are a classic 70's Dutch progressive band led by keyboardist Ton Schenperzeel, and drummer and occasional keyboardist Pim Koopman, composers at equal parts of all the tracks of the group (after the fourth album only Scherpenzeel, so Koopman left the band).

It doesn't seem that many people remember Kayak nowadays, but the truth is that they began their career with a great album "See See the Sun", edited in 1973, an album basically influenced by Yes. They continued with four good discs, "Kayak", "Royal Bed Bouncer", "The Last Encore" and "Starlight Dancer", always in the scope of progressive and symphonic rock, though each time with a little more pop taste. And all of them with prominent moments. But the band degenerated enough into their two next works, "Phantom of the Night" and "Periscope Life", definitively very close to pop.

When it seemed that they were not going to raise the head evermore, they surprised us with a last recording, "Merlin", a concept work based on the legend of the King Arthur. As you know, Merlin, Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, Avalon, etc, etc. Released in 1981, was probably their best work since the debut album.

After Ton Scherpenzeel's staying in Camel, on some alternated works, and after almost 20 years, Kayak returned to life in 1999. Again with Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman leading the band. Up to date, new Kayak have released two works: "Close to the Fire" and "Night Vision".

Focusing on this new album, these guys give us now a new version of their classic work "Merlin". A new rather special version, because a big part of the compositions are new. Here remain those who were the first five tracks of the original "Merlin", an album composed in its entirety by Ton Scherpenzeel. These remaining tracks are "Merlin", "Tintagel", "The Sword in the Stone", "The King's Enchanter" and "Niniane (Lady of the Lake)", that stay in this occasion mixed with the new compositions.

Kayak have turned this new version of their former album into one of those orchestral rock operas that are so fashionable nowadays, thanks to the intervention of The New Philarmonic Orchestra in almost the whole album. A work, you know, comparable to the excellent "Beethoven's Last Night" of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

It should be emphasized the perfect harmony that exists between the five tracks retrieved from the original album, and the new ones. They are always perfectly integrated the former and the latter, up to the point of not appreciating any difference between all of them. Also to highlight the quality of the new compositions, of a quality as high as the original ones. Particularly I would emphasize two of the new tracks, magnificent "When the Seer Looks Away" and "The Otherworld", both written by Pim Koopman, in addition to some of the old tracks as "Merlin" and "Niniane".

Those who have the original album should buy also this new version, due to the important differences that exist between both of them.

I was not expecting to find Kayak in so good form. Though one has to realize that the is built on the basis of a good work already done a long time ago. But most of the compositions are new, and it seems to me that it is not an easy task to fit them so well in the whole work. A very advisable album for every fan of symphonic rock, and perfect to enter Kayak's discography for those who still haven't listened to anything of the group.

Rating: 7.5/10

Ferran Lizana