Review 'Lunar Clock II' by Background Magazine (The Netherlands)
Februari 26, by Henri Strik
Being a Dutch citizen, you’d think I’d know every progressive rock-related band or album released in my homeland. Well, that’s quite disappointing, even though I do know many bands and albums from my homeland. Take for example Lunar Clock, hailing from the Amsterdam region of the Netherlands. I’d never heard of them before I discovered their second album, Lunar Clock II. So, I completely missed their debut, The Scream of Nature: Music Inspired by the Works of Edvard Munch, released in 2020 on various digital platforms. Perhaps because, as far as I know, it hasn’t been released on compact disc. I only discovered later that the band was formed in 2014/15 and consists of the following line-up: Robin Boer (keyboards, lead vocals), Achille Regazzoni (bass guitars, FX, keyboards, twelve-string guitar), Karsten van Straten (drums, keyboards, FX, vocals), and Shardan Stream (guitars, guitar synth, soundscapes, vocals). The latter is unfortunately missing from the new album released in 2025. So just like in Genesis, suddenly there were only three left. But the three remaining members, without Shardan, have released a fantastic album where the guitar is not missed at all!
Oddly enough, the album was released with two different covers. One shows a face surrounded by flowers (artwork by Anemoon van Straten), and one shows a very old book that appears to have been nailed shut with a screw (artwork by Mauro Ghiglione). I received the latter. Even though I think the cover with face surrounded by flowers looks better to me!
The new album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Exalto Studios, Haarlem by Bart Wagemakers in September 2024 and February 2025. He made sure the album really got a transparent sound which the bands deserves with their late ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s influenced music.
Unlike the conceptual debut album, this work is a collection of eight independent songs with a philosophical bent. It’s about the gap between observation and interpretation, the dance of duality, and the lonely path to transformation and purpose. Well lets go through them one by one.
Night Owl (Announcement) is a short atmospheric mellow tune with vocals which reminded me of the way Premiata Forneri Marconi (PFM) used to sing on the early released albums.
Sateria is a more up tempo piece. A great track with a lot of great playing on the electric piano (sounds Fender Rhodes or Wurlitzer but played on Nord synthesizer) next to the great parts performed on the synthesizers. Most of all the excellent long synthesizer solo (sounds like a Minimoog but played on Behringer Poly D/ Moog Little Phatty Stage II) is one of a kind and made me think about the Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Again the vocals reminded me of the way PFM used to sing in the seventies. Definitely the first highlight of the album!
Metaphors is a beautiful slow and melancholic piece of music. Nothing more nothing less!
Oculus Lunae/Oculus Terrae starts again very mellow and laidback. A bit like classical music. But when the drums enter half way through the music gets rather pompous and symphonic and more up tempo. Great synthesizer parts are included and moves the song to an ultimate climax. Even more when the bass pedals or bass synthesizers are added to the total sound!
Night Owl (Conclusion) has again great synthesizer parts and a touch of classical music is notable. The Mellotron parts are beautiful as well. Jazz rock kind of musical parts can also be enjoyed next to another Manfred Mann kind of synthesizer solo.
Where The Birds Hide starts again rather mellow with beautiful parts performed on the string synthesizer. Again, after the drums enter the music gets more up tempo and another great synthesizer solo can be enjoyed next to the excellent fretless bass parts. Again, the music gets very bombast and another beautiful climax can be enjoyed half way before some jazzy parts take over. They are most of all very well played on the bass and electric piano. But I should not forget to mention the great drum parts.
Where The Birds Hide starts again rather mellow with beautiful parts performed on the string synthesizer. Again, after the drums enter the music gets more up tempo and another great synthesizer solo can be enjoyed next to the excellent fretless bass parts. Again, the music gets very bombast and another beautiful climax can be enjoyed half way before some jazzy parts take over. They are most of all very well played on the bass and electric piano. But I should not forget to mention the great drum parts.
Life Through Corridors is another rather mellow piece of music with again PFM kind of vocal parts. Half way again the drums join which speeds up the pace a bit. Which then leads to another great synthesizer solo next to some great bass parts.
The Dreamer ends the album in a beautiful way. This final track has great combination of mellow and up-tempo parts which features excellent synthesizer solos and (fretless) bass. But I also have to mention that here the best vocal performs of the entire album can enjoyed.
All I can say is well done to the three excellent musicians of Lunar Clock. You just released an outstanding album which got me by the throat all the way. It’s great to hear that fantastic progressive rock is also being released in the Netherlands. Especially when it’s also of an international calibre that can even compete with acts such as Premiata Forneri Marconi and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. That’s why I highly recommend this fantastic album to everyone. Especially if you enjoy atmospheric music featuring beautiful synthesizer solos. Thanks guys you made me proud being a Dutch citizen!
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