Ekseption 3 - 1970 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

This third album by Dutch jazz-rock and classical influenced band had confirmed their stand as solid band with attractive and inventive music compositions. "Maybe not their best album; but especially the instrumental work on this album is again very enjoyable".. "But you better listen for yourself"!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

The 3rd album was another concept-work, this time based on Saint Exupèry's book "Le Petit Prince". It was also Ekseption's most vocal-oriented album as 4 of the 9 tracks included vocals. The band had got a new singer in Steve Allet and his deep and low voice sounded quite different from Michel van Dijk. All of the vocal tracks are good songs, especially "Morning Rose" and "B 612". The latter includes a complex and jazzy instrumental-part in the middle and is in my opinion one of the most beautiful horn-passages they ever recorded. The dramatic "On Sunday They Will Kill the World" is maybe a bit repetitive, but still quite powerful and enjoyable.

"Another History" starts very jazzy, but turns into a pleasant and atmospheric progressive ballad when the harpsichord and shimmering organ starts. The instrumental-part of the album includes the well-known opening theme "Peace Planet" and this Bach-adaptation became another hit for the group. "Bottle Mind" is a cool and catchy track where the theme is clearly inspired by Grieg's "I Dovregubbens Hall". The loud and heavy break in the middle only makes it more entertaining. The version of Beethoven's "Rondo" demonstrates van der Linden's skills on the organ and also lets Broek stretch out in the jazzy mid-part. But the highlight of the instrumental-numbers is van der Linden's own two-part suite "Piece for Symphonic and Rock Group in A Minor".

The first part is a beautifully dark and atmospheric passage played by strings and wind instruments that slowly build up to the energetic and rocking last part that includes many cool riffs with more excellent organ and harpsichord from van der Linden. "Ekseption 3" will be another winner if you like old-fashioned, early 70's classical influenced progressive rock. But Steve Allet left the band after this album, and Ekseption would from then remain a pure instrumental group.

Tommy Schönenberg @Vintageprog.com


Track List:

01 Peace Planet (Badinerie)
02 B 612
03 Morning Rose
04 Piece for Symphonic and Rock Group in a Minor

05 The Lamplighter
06 Battle Mind
07 On Sunday They Will Kill the World
08 Another History
09 Rondo

Line-up / Musicians
- Steve Allet / Vocals
- Michel van Dijk / Vocals (on 8)
- Rick van der Linden / Piano, Spinet, Organ, Mellotron
- Rein van den Broek / Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Cor Dekker / Bass Guitar
- Dick Remelink / Saxes
- Peter de Leeuwe / Drums

- Guest: Tony Vos / saxes