CODA — Sound Of Passion (1986-2007) RM | 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

CODA is a Dutch concept band created and headed by multi-instrumentalist Erik DeVroomen. With a strong emphasis on melody, their material is lushly symphonic and focuses on swirling keyboards (grand piano, novatron, clavinet and various synths played by DeVroomen), climactic moments and a few but heavily conceptual lyrics - imagine VANGELIS with some killer guitar and super-spacey segments. Between 1986 and 1996, the band released two albums and a mini CD.

Their first full-length album, "Sounds of Passion" (1986), features a 29-minute suite with lots of organ, horns and strings that give it a highly 'symphonic orchestra' feel. It is also full of mood and tempo changes as well as grandiloquent (and fortunately sparse, accented) vocals. As for the two short tracks that close the album, they are quite dispensable. Their second full-length cd, the ambitious "What a Symphony", is best described as classical music performed with modern instruments (a couple of nods are given to Mahler and Bach, in passing). Ranging from aggressive to pastoral moods, the flow is somehow unfortunately broken with frequent jazzy solos that don't quite fit into the picture. Overall, however, it is a highly melodious album and boasts a much improved production over "Sounds of Passion". progarchives
Chapter 1 - Sounds of Passion: The Album    
    Coda     Sounds Of Passion (29:14)
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
Chapter 2 - Sounds of Passion: The Demos    
    Sequoia     Sounds Of Passion - Demo Version (31:25)
Bass Guitar – Maarten Holz
Drums, Percussion – Jan Stavenuiten
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Karel De Greef
Flute, Piccolo Flute, Recorder – Pip Van Steen
Keyboards – Erik De Vroomen
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
Narrator – Roel Strik
Recorded By, Engineer, Producer, Mixed By – Erik De Vroomen, Karel De Greef, Roel Strik