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HAPPY THE MAN: "The Muse Awakens" 7
Inside Out 2004
Review by Martien Koolen,
13 október 2004
With their sophisticated music the American band Happy The Man were one of the most original progressive rock bands at the end of the seventies. Happy The Man was known for its crafted tempo changes and quirky melodies and their influences ranged from prog rock and jazz till classical music. This made their music a mix of bands like Gentle Giant, Yes, Camel, Soft Machine and Henry Cow. Their 2 albums “Happy The Man”(1977) and “Crafty Hands”(1978) are milestones of the progressive genre and now fans can enjoy their new release called “The Muse Awakens”.
It is an instrumental album with only one track “Shadowlites” featuring vocals of founder member Stan Whitaker. The vocals on that track certainly give it an extra dimension and that makes that song more diverse. I really miss the vocals on a few other songs, which could have replaced the rather dull saxophone parts. As for my idea there is too much sax and woodwinds on this album anyway... Especially in tracks like “Lunch At The Psychedelicatessen”, “Barking Spiders” and “Adrift” the saxophone tends to get on my nerves.
However I really like the genuine proggy/symphonic songs like “Contemporary Insanity”(real seventies prog!!), “Maui Sunset”(great melody with keys and guitars) and “Il Quinto Mare”, a real symphonic rock highlight! However I still feel that this album sounds so out of time, so old-fashioned, just like in the seventies…. And the problem is that we live in 2004… so only food for real proggies?? Probably, although I like a few of the songs very well, “The Muse Awakens” will not be in my top 20 of 2004.
HAPPY THE MAN: "The Muse Awakens" 7
Inside Out 2004
Review by Martien Koolen,
13 október 2004
With their sophisticated music the American band Happy The Man were one of the most original progressive rock bands at the end of the seventies. Happy The Man was known for its crafted tempo changes and quirky melodies and their influences ranged from prog rock and jazz till classical music. This made their music a mix of bands like Gentle Giant, Yes, Camel, Soft Machine and Henry Cow. Their 2 albums “Happy The Man”(1977) and “Crafty Hands”(1978) are milestones of the progressive genre and now fans can enjoy their new release called “The Muse Awakens”.
It is an instrumental album with only one track “Shadowlites” featuring vocals of founder member Stan Whitaker. The vocals on that track certainly give it an extra dimension and that makes that song more diverse. I really miss the vocals on a few other songs, which could have replaced the rather dull saxophone parts. As for my idea there is too much sax and woodwinds on this album anyway... Especially in tracks like “Lunch At The Psychedelicatessen”, “Barking Spiders” and “Adrift” the saxophone tends to get on my nerves.
However I really like the genuine proggy/symphonic songs like “Contemporary Insanity”(real seventies prog!!), “Maui Sunset”(great melody with keys and guitars) and “Il Quinto Mare”, a real symphonic rock highlight! However I still feel that this album sounds so out of time, so old-fashioned, just like in the seventies…. And the problem is that we live in 2004… so only food for real proggies?? Probably, although I like a few of the songs very well, “The Muse Awakens” will not be in my top 20 of 2004.
when he was a kid. 
What self-respecting critic would write such the phrase in a REVIEW anyway? Only very immature one with a total inability to get into an artistic vision and/or specifics of a style.
