Power Structure

The quartet featured on One More Slice, Fruitcake's third album, gained yet one more member, albeit part-time only, for the 1998 CD Power Structure. Flutist Nina C. Dahl adds a delightful pastoral touch, but that's not the only thing that went right this time. The group's writing is much stronger, tighter, fuller in the arrangements department, and more well-humored. Pal Sovik's lyrics reveal a previously unsuspected witty side. Yet the biggest improvement resides in the melodies. The opener, "Hold Your Ground," had single potential in prog rock circles. Concessions to pop really don't hurt in this case. "Just a Little Bit More Time" and "The Bogeyman (Part 2)" also bring memorable songs, the kind you sing in the shower. But nothing -- absolutely nothing in the group's whole catalog -- tops the closer, "Silence Reigns." The perfect balance act between pastoral folk and prog rock bombast, it includes one of Robert Hauge's excellent guitar solos, tasteful synth work, and the cutest melody -- class-act anthology material. It makes listeners forget the weaker "Touched by the Fire" and "There's an Angel." Even though we recognize the moods and the voice, it is hard to believe that this is the same band who recorded the flavorless One More Slice two years earlier. For simple neo-prog with a Nordic touch, this is definitely the place to start. ~ Francois Couture