Focus (2019)
Having spouted off in my preamble to the T. Rex/Damned post about punk's contempt for prog rock it is worth noting that in many cases for some of the musicians involved, the anti-prog stance was a sham. And The Damned were perhaps the worst offenders in this deception, especially the beret-ed one.
Not all prog was shit. One band that stood out for me as a fan of The Stranglers and The Damned was Focus. I freely admit I only know the 'hits' but this is the muppets doing prog.... it is mental and wonderful. Listen to the guitars in Hocus Pocus and you cannot fail to be impressed by the manic energy of it all...... Thijs is coming after you with his flute!
02. House of the King
03. Eruption
04. Focus 6
05. Sylvia
06. Winnie
07. All Hens On Deck
08. Focus IV
09. Birds Come Fly Over (Le Tango)
10. Who’s Calling?
11. La Cathedral de Strasbourg
12. Harem Scarem Pt1
13. Menno Showcase
14. Udo Showcase
15. Harem Scarem Pt2
16. Thijs Showcase
17. Hocus Pocus Pt1
18. Pierre Showcase
19. Hocus Pocus Pt2
Focus are:
Thijs van Leer - Hammond-organ, flute and vocals
Menno Gootjes - guitar
Udo Pannekeet - bass
Pierre van der Linden - drums