TumbleTown - 2024 - On The Highwire
(55:17; Freia Music)
It may have taken six years, but Tumbletown are back with their third album. It is the same line-up as previously, so we have Aldo Adema (guitar, bass, keyboards) who I will always think of as being part of Egdon Heath, Han Uil (lead & backing vocals, keyboards, harmonica) who was with Also in Seven Day Hunt, Erik Laan (piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals) from the wonderful Silhouette while the drums are provided again by Arjan Laan.
This album has been out just over a year, yet there is not a single review on ProgArchives which is something of a shame as in many ways this is an improvement on the last one. Back then I was not a fan of the vocals or the way the lyrics scanned, but it is much better this time and is often now a benefit as opposed to a distraction, although it must be said they come across better when the band is moving rapidly as opposed to ballads. Erik has a much higher profile on this release, often providing multiple layers at the same time and the end result is something which has more breadth and depth than I expected. I was not sure about reviewing this, given my last experience, but whereas I felt the last album was a 6/10 there is no doubt this is much more of a 7. It is solid crossover, but there are enough guitars to provide some nice edge which means there are times when they almost move into Neo, but not quite. This makes it far more palatable and anyone into the Nineties prog scene may well find much in here to enjoy.
Kev Rowland, February 2025
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