Search - Kayak :: Last Encore (Reis)

Good for Pim Koopman fans

Sven B. Schreiber | Fürth (Bayern) | 06/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's strange that I have to order this CD in the USA, although I'm living in Germany, and Kayak is a Dutch band... That's even stranger, if you consider that Kayak once was one of Europe's finest prog bands! One of their typical hallmarks was that they managed a good balance between 70's pop sounds and progressive elements. "The last encore" from 1976 is a special album because it is the last one with Pim Koopman on drums. It's also a special one because it contains an unusual large amount of Pim's songs. Although main Kayak composer Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim are quite different songwriters, their songs integrate very nicely on this CD. Ton is more prog-oriented and writes terrific ballads, while Pim is a great author of "intelligent pop music". Both gave their best on "The Last Encore", and that's why this CD is a must-have. (By the way, Pim went on to become a successful pop music producer after leaving Kayak...)"

1 of 2 of their best

Clark Ray | Tulare, CA | 03/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a progressive rock fan, I place Kayak as the perfect progressive pop band and no other album demonstrates their genius better than The Last Encore. This is an album of extremes from mellow and "sad" songs to all-out pop blisterers as well as some genuine progressive rock. In this way it is more adventurous than their previous album "Royal Bed Bouncer" but both albums are 5 star albums.



Some of their sounds remind me of Focus, Alan Parsons Project, and ELP, but the sound is not a copy. It doesn't meander as much as Focus or ELP -- it gets to the point -- and this is, in my opinion, more enjoyable than those bands' music. This group will not wow you with their virtuosity (save for the piano work, which is as good as Keith Emmerson in some songs) because their focus is on the overall sound and structure of the song. Take the vocals, for instance, they are more of an instrument than a lead (kind of like Yes). All songs on here are very well-written and played but they really excel with the songs "Evocation" (possibly their best song ever), "Do You Care", "Still My Heart Cries For You", and "The Last Encore".



It's ironic to me that this album has been the hardest of all their catalog to find on CD."

The best of the band's many wonderful offerings

R. Lindeboom | Paso Robles, CA USA | 09/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kayak is, at least for me, arguably Holland's best rock band. While some would argue Golden Earring or Focus, neither band matches Kayak in either Kayak's ability to write and arrange or in their ability to just plain kick ass. These guys can rock but do it with a sense of drama, flair and embellishment that is very European in its sophistication -- even adding a degree of humor that you will not find in any but a handful of bands. But don't get me wrong, this is no comedy group and they can write rock that is beautifully poetic in its classical edge, complete with vocals that border on damned near being an angelic choir at times. They can also do it while creating an edge that most rock bands would die to possess. This is rock like few bands can play and if you've ever loved bands like Camel, Genesis, Ambrosia, Kansas or Yes, then you NEED to get this album. Simply put, these guys are every bit as good as any of the top bands of the progessive rock genre and most prog bands never released an album as good as this one. Just buy it, this will quickly become one of those albums that you listen to over and over."