Vampire Magazine review of The Muse Awakens.
www.vampire-magazine.com
Reviewed by Matthieu on November 22, 2004.
Link to review found at the Happy the Man website.
Just like earlier reviewed Sarissa, Happy the man’s “The Muse Awakens” is a comeback album. After 1978’s “Crafty Hands” the band disappeared to have a comeback in 1997 with “Happy the Man Live” and in 2004 it was time for yet another comeback. The original HTM members Stanley Whitaker (Guitars & Vocals), Frank Wyatt (Saxophone, Keyboards) an d Rick Kennell (Bass) are joined by drummer Joe Bergamini (Ex-4Front) and keyboardplayer David Rosenthal (Ex-Rainbow) for the recording of “The Muse Awakens”.
Back in the seventies, Happy the Man was considered to be one of the most innovative and creative progressive rock bands of their time. From the jazzy opener “Contemporary Insanity” to the epic “Il Quinto Mare” this album is filled with song with all kinds of different styles. The power of Happy the man lies in their slow changing. During most songs the tempo, or style gradually changes change, creating different atmospheres in one song. This changing is supported by the wide range of instruments used on “The Muse Awakens”. Next to the common instruments as guitars and keyboards there are instruments as saxophones, flutes and clarinets. By using multiples of these instruments the transition between styles goes very fluent. Due to the fact that “The Muse Awakens” is a completely instrumental album (Except for “Shadowlites”) I had a big soundtrack feeling while listening to this album. Tracks like “Slipstream” and “Maui Sunset” could be used for instructional videos for vacation resorts and “Lunch at the Delicatessen” would fit in a VPRO documentary. Of course, this doesn’t make those tracks less good than they are, it just takes the edge away.
With “The Muse Awakens”, Happy the Man once again showed why they were called one of the greatest creative bands of the seventies. From midtempo jazz rhythms to epic duelling keyboards to slow, dreamy rock, with Happy the Man you’ve got it all.
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Just a reflection:
I had a big soundtrack feeling while listening to this album. Tracks like “Slipstream” and “Maui Sunset” could be used for instructional videos for vacation resorts and “Lunch at the Delicatessen” would fit in a VPRO documentary.
That is exactly the feeling I´ve got of a few tunes on the Muse.
I think it has to do with the choice of beat and drumming and also the soft mix. I dont think HTM wanted to have a "soundtrack feeling" when they composed those tunes. 
www.vampire-magazine.com
Reviewed by Matthieu on November 22, 2004.
Link to review found at the Happy the Man website.
Just like earlier reviewed Sarissa, Happy the man’s “The Muse Awakens” is a comeback album. After 1978’s “Crafty Hands” the band disappeared to have a comeback in 1997 with “Happy the Man Live” and in 2004 it was time for yet another comeback. The original HTM members Stanley Whitaker (Guitars & Vocals), Frank Wyatt (Saxophone, Keyboards) an d Rick Kennell (Bass) are joined by drummer Joe Bergamini (Ex-4Front) and keyboardplayer David Rosenthal (Ex-Rainbow) for the recording of “The Muse Awakens”.
Back in the seventies, Happy the Man was considered to be one of the most innovative and creative progressive rock bands of their time. From the jazzy opener “Contemporary Insanity” to the epic “Il Quinto Mare” this album is filled with song with all kinds of different styles. The power of Happy the man lies in their slow changing. During most songs the tempo, or style gradually changes change, creating different atmospheres in one song. This changing is supported by the wide range of instruments used on “The Muse Awakens”. Next to the common instruments as guitars and keyboards there are instruments as saxophones, flutes and clarinets. By using multiples of these instruments the transition between styles goes very fluent. Due to the fact that “The Muse Awakens” is a completely instrumental album (Except for “Shadowlites”) I had a big soundtrack feeling while listening to this album. Tracks like “Slipstream” and “Maui Sunset” could be used for instructional videos for vacation resorts and “Lunch at the Delicatessen” would fit in a VPRO documentary. Of course, this doesn’t make those tracks less good than they are, it just takes the edge away.
With “The Muse Awakens”, Happy the Man once again showed why they were called one of the greatest creative bands of the seventies. From midtempo jazz rhythms to epic duelling keyboards to slow, dreamy rock, with Happy the Man you’ve got it all.
_____________________________________________
Just a reflection:
I had a big soundtrack feeling while listening to this album. Tracks like “Slipstream” and “Maui Sunset” could be used for instructional videos for vacation resorts and “Lunch at the Delicatessen” would fit in a VPRO documentary.
That is exactly the feeling I´ve got of a few tunes on the Muse.
I think it has to do with the choice of beat and drumming and also the soft mix. I dont think HTM wanted to have a "soundtrack feeling" when they composed those tunes. 
