Friday 27 October 2017

PBII - Rocket! The Dreams of Wubbo Ockels (2017)


The third album from this Dutch band.

PBII is a sextet with a lineup of keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, piano and vocals. Both male and female vocals. The female vocals are mostly soprano opera vocals.
Nad Sylvan does guest vocals on one song here.

PBII is mark 2 of the Dutch neo-prog band Plackband who only released one album in 2002.

I reviewed their second album, the 2013 album 1000 Wishes back in September 2013 for # 1 of this blog. You can find the review here. As you can see, I rated that album as a great album.

I had high expectations to their new album, in other words.

The band plays a mix of neo-prog and symphonic prog. I would say 50/50 of both genres. It is also my impression that this is a concept album about a Dutch inventor who did rockets. 

The album soars of towards heaven with the opening track Rocket # 1. Five minutes of soaring, dramatic melodies. I was sold.

The rest of this one hour long album is not as dramatic and soaring. But the title track's main theme is repeated in variations two more times. And it is a great track indeed.

And so is most of the songs too. The quality is great throughout. This album has great melodies, a good concept and plenty of great details. The vocals is also great and so is the guitars, bass, drums and keyboards.

This is one of the best albums of the year. Check it out.

4 points


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