REVIEWS OF "SAFE"

Review by Stephanie Sollow
(from ProgressiveWorld.net)

This is the most recent release I've seen by this Poland based band (this came out late 95 or early 96). They've four previous releases including a cover album of John Lennon songs. While I've not heard that release, I really liked 1994's Moonshine.

Their sound on this album is reminiscent...um, very much like that of, well, Marillion. Vocalist Robert Amirian sounds very much like Steve Hogarth throughout, especially on "Cages of the Mind." The arrangement of "Stranded" sounds very Marillion-esque. And the keys on "Made Again" are more than just reminiscent of Marillion on their own "King" (Afraid of Sunlight). Here, too, the first line of the lyric is "Here I am with twisted smile." (cf. lyrics of Script For A Jester's Tear's lead, titular track).

But also, there are touches reminiscent of almost any Clive Nolan project (thus also a Pendragon comparison), though not as musically aggressive as say Shadowland. That is, Collage go more for lyrical, swirling passages rather than the more metal edge.

Which isn't to suggest that Collage are a soft rock band or anything. Guitarist Mirek Gil can play, and play with an edge - midway through "Chanting," for example. And, Krzysztof Palczewski's keys have a very classical feel to them - closer to what is called contemporary instrumental. In the title track, particularly, I'm brought to mind of David Lanz. Actually, "Safe" could very well be played on any of those smooth jazz stations, though this isn't as thin as some of that is getting.

On "Eight Kisses," which is otherwise a very good track, there are a couple drawbacks, however. Gil doesn't have the same...discipline that, say, Steve Rothery has, instead finding a particular tone or phrase and repeating it to just this side of over indulgence. He seems headed somewhere in his solo, but takes too long getting there. The other drawback was the addition of a female vocalist a third of the way through - she is in too high a register for comfort. Of course, the tendency in this genre is to find very robust, sultry female vocalists for harmony or effect (I'm thinking of Pink Floyd's Dark Side... for example).

The instrumentation and arrangements here are very good - well balanced (other than noted above). The addition of acoustic guitars on many of the tracks add another dimension, giving the tracks here texture and shading.

This is a really good album and I really like it - despite and because of its similarity to Marillion and the like. I do recommend it. [So much for being brief. -ed.]

Review by Jurriaan Hage
(from Axiom of Choice)

Summary of history: 
After their fantastic Moonshine and some great live concerts we saw the release of Changes (most probably, this one will see a polished up release shortly) and also their new one Safe, here reviewed. 

The album: 
I'm in two minds with this album. On the one hand I think it's good that the band has not tried to make another Moonshine, on the other hand the length of the album and the compositions available do not really make it a worthy follow-up. Still, there's a lot to be liked about this album even so. It all starts off with a typical intro, but the next song is more or less a ballad and it turns out that there plenty more like it on the album. The atmosphere of the album is a lot more laid back than the bombastic Moonshine and that can be good, but the album might have been better if the songs would have been somewhat shorter. The next track sounds more or less like a joke with Amirian on acoustic guitar and not singing like he can. The fourth one is by far the best track on the album and I'm sorry to say, actually the most like Moonshine. Especially the part going "We love, we hate..." manages to bring over a lot of emotion. Really very good. On the fifth track there's some change between an up-tempo couplet and mostly flowing, laidback parts, but not satisfactory I'm afraid. 

The sixth one if flowing and friendly even and orchestrated as well. There are some very familiar parts in it (from Moonshine I mean), but it also contains some good guitar solo's so nothing wrong there. The next track is about a child not fitting in and wanting to be like others and also the thoughts of revenge harboured against the people that mistreat it. I like it. 

The title track is like it says, Safe, but actually not. Being Safe in Collage case would have meant: all registers open, full bombastic sound and what have you. The track is even romantic in a way and more or less for a lazy evening, lying on a couch (but not alone). This mood is enhanced by Chanting, which is at once frolic, but at times a little threatening. It has a bit of an "night in the tropics" atmosphere. 

The next one also starts out quietly, but in the end shows some bite, which people might say is one of the things lacking on this album. 

A rerecording of Cages of Mind with piano forms part III of the track and like it less than part II. 

The album concludes softly with another ballad. 

The artwork is again very good. 

Conclusion:
Very recognizably Collage although the mood is a lot softer and laid back and even romantic on this album. At times it becomes even boring unfortunately and as a whole I like it less than Moonshine. Still, in some places it can really shine (Cages of the Mind II to name but one) and as a whole it is pleasant to listen to, but not an album that you can enjoy directly. If you have Moonshine and you like War is Over very much than this album might be something for you. 

I've heard people not being very satisfied with this album after Moonshine, but I must admit that it's not as bad as you might think: it's just different and liking Moonshine doesn't guarantee liking Safe, and the other way around. If you have a friend and need a CD to enjoy a warm, cold or whatever night with than this might just be the album for you. Still, a shorter album (or better yet shorter tracks) might have been better here, I can't say it's a bad album, but not very good either.

Click here to find out where to buy this album!