According to the LANDMARQ website, with Tracy Hitchings joining the band (who comes to replace former singer Damien Wilson) there is only one member of the band left who has not also been a member of the band QUASAR. But because I haven’t heard anything from this band so far, I have to write only about this one (with the solemn promise that I will try to get the QUASAR albums and listen to them).

The opener and title track “Science Of Coincidence” starts really dashing and pretty merry, which was not at all typical for the previous album, where we had a rather melancholic tone. Guitar and keyboard have the lead and conjure up a really amazing atmosphere. But that warm and cosy feeling that the tracks emanate is still there. And the voice of Tracy is fitting this sound design just fine.

“The Vision Pit” follows a LANDMARQ tradition, if I may call it that, namely that a song always bears the name of the previous album. And maybe this song has more in common with the previous release than the opener. It is definitely slower and opens soft, only with guitar and keyboard building up a very special atmosphere…it sounds as if many tiny bells resound at once…and then the sound of the guitar embraces you from everywhere at once. The track stays that calm until the very end, all the musicians performing at their best and even the instruments that are more in the background – bass and drums – deserve more attention than one usually offers them.

“The Heritage” keeps the calm course and offers us a charming example of Progressive Rock. It is not really the kind of music that you would normally hear on your radio station during the day, if so, then rather in the evening or in the night…maybe in a special program, or not on a private station. I remember that I have heard such a program some years ago, on a national station…and there you could listen to music like this. There were mostly artists you never heard of, or vaguely, but it was always worth to listen to, cause you could discover some really great artists and bands.

“Summer Madness” is not the stuff that really great hits are made of, as you can possibly imagine, but is a bit different as the rest of the tracks on the record, it goes more into the direction of the first song. It also has a merry undertone to it and this is also suggested by the instruments and lyrics as well.

“The Lighthouse” is a highlight of the album, not only because its length but also because it offers both musically and lyrically something special indeed. I like the keyboard intro very much. The lyrics praise Tracy Hitchings, as most of the lyrics on this album. A really beautiful song with more magical guitar and keyboard parts, just listen to that great instrumental part, one cannot avoid thinking of the fellow musicians from E.L.P. or YES. The Progressive masterpieces of the last 30-40 years are not at all unknown to the members of LANDMARQ, I suppose.

“Between Sleeping And Dreaming”, well I think that there is really no need for me to present you this song, isn’t it? With such a title and after having read the things I have written on the other songs, you could well imagine how this song would sound like. It is really what the title promises: a small dream quest, very well supported by the instruments, especially guitar and keyboard, there is a certain kinship with the second track on this album. Moody, calm passages are alternating with masterly instrumental parts. One to savour, that’s for sure!

“More Flames For The Dancer” offers us simple melody lines, a very catchy chorus…just joking, nothing of that kind. It is a typical track for this album, about a dancer… beautiful melodies and a great vocal performance convinces us all the way, but the track needs some time to unfold and blossom. I like the use of that choir of children in the song, well done.

“The Overlook”… are you familiar with Stephen King’s novel “The Shining”? I think you are, if not, at least with the movie from Roman Polanski, with Mr. Nicholson. For me the later (and much longer) adaptation is better. What has all this got to do with this song? Actually not much and everything. I will not venture to think that the Mr. Leigh was inspired by this book as he wrote this song. But I always associate it with the novel…cause the hotel in the novel was called “Overlook”…and I always have it before my eyes…that building, high in the mountains, lonely… surrounded by snow and fog… somewhat creepy scenery, but alluring. The song is musically very challenging, with a very nice keyboard-intro (again), with a theme that comes back over and over again during this song. A real fitting closing track for this album.

Well on the one hand I am a bit disappointed that Damien Wilson has left the band, but on the other hand with Tracy Hitchings they found a really good replacement and she really delivers a great performance on this record. The music did not change that much, as I have already stated the mood is here and there more positive as on the previous record, but on the whole it contains the same great songs and the same splendid musical achievement by all the musicians involved. If you can find the time and patience lend an ear to this heartfelt and enchanting music. Enjoy!

(Online December 21, 2006)