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
Tracklist
Chapter 1 - Sounds Of Passion: The Album (29:14)
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
1-1a – A) Prologue
1-1b – B) 1st Movement
1-1c – C) 2nd Movement
1-1d – D) 3rd Movement
1-1e – E) 4th Movement
1-2 – Crazy Fool And Dreamer - Album Version 4:25
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
1-3 – Defended 7:07
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
Bonus Tracks
1-4 – Sounds Of Passion 4th - Single Version 4:34
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
1-5 – Sounds Of Passion 3rd - Single Version 2:28
Music By – Erik De Vroomen
1-6 – Crazy Fool And Dreamer - Single Remix 4:24
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
1-7 – Central Station 2:06
Music By – Jacky Van Tongeren
1-8 –Coda (14) Reverberating Sounds 4:03
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
Chapter 2 - Sounds Of Passion: The Demos (31:25)
–Sequoia Sounds Of Passion - Demo Version
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
2-1a – A) Prologue
2-1b – B) 1st Movement
2-1c – C) 2nd Movement
2-1d – D) 3rd Movement
2-1e – E) 4th Movement
2-2 – Nevermore (The Proud Tower I) - Demo Version 4:25
Music By – Erik De Vroomen
2-3 – Dance In The Mirror (Defended) - Demo Version 6:53
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
2-4 – True Melody (The Proud Tower II) - Demo Version 3:19
Music By – Erik De Vroomen
2-5 – Crazy Fool And Dreamer - Demo Version 4:31
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
2-6 – What A Symphony (Part 1) - Demo Version 4:48
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
2-7 – What A Symphony (Part 2) - Demo Version 5:16
Music By – Erik De Vroomen
2-8 – Reverberating Sounds - Demo Version 2:52
Music By, Words By – Erik De Vroomen
Credits
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Auke De Haan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Bass [Fretless], Backing Vocals – Jacky Van Tongeren (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Drums, Percussion – Mark Eshuis (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Jack Witjes (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Flute, Piccolo Flute, Recorder – Pip Van Steen (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Grand Piano, Synthesizer [Assorted], Organ [Hammond, Pipe], Mellotron, Clavinet, Sampler [Emax, Emulator], Gong [Gongs], Pedalboard [Moog Taurus Bass Pedals], Percussion [Assorted], Backing Vocals, Vocals – Erik De Vroomen (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Narrator – Peter Van Der Laan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 2-2 to 2-8)
Notes
Remastered in the 24-bit domain from the original master tapes.
2CD Limited Edition with cardboard slipcase.
CD 1 - Chapter 1:
tracks 1-5: ℗ 1986 / tracks 6-8: ℗ 1992 / track 4: ℗ 1986 previously unreleased Single Version
tracks 1-3: previously released on Sounds Of Passion on Boni Records and Sounds Of Passion on Dureco Benelux
tracks 5: previously released on Sounds Of Passion single on Bon Records
tracks 6-8: previously released on Crazy Fool And Dreamer CD-single on SI Music
Recording details:
tracks 1-5: recorded at the MMP Studios, Waalwijk, The Netherlands, November 22nd, 1983 until February 13th, 1984
Pipe Organ recorded at Ant. Abt Church, Wijchen, The Netherlands, February 14th, 1984 by Ero Sound Mobile Recordings.
Overdubs & Mixed by Jan Schuurman at the Bullet Sound Studios, Nederhorst Den Berg, The Netherlands, end of April & early May 1986.
track 6: partly re-recorded by The Van Mobile Studios, Wijchen, The Netherlands, March 9th 1992
track 7 & 8: recorded by The Van Mobile Studios, Spakenburg, The Netherlands, March 20th 1992. Mixed at The Van Mobile Studio, Spakenburg, The Netherlands, May 20th, 1992
CD 2 - Chapter 2:
track 1: ℗ previously unreleased Demo Version, recorded under the band name: Sequoia / tracks 2-8: ℗ 1984 previously unreleased Demo Versions / tracks 1-8: Rough Mixes / Demo Sound Quality
Recording details:
track 1: recorded at the Home Studios, Wijchen, November 1982 until January 1983. Recorded & rough mixed witha 4 track Fostex 250 Cassette Recorder on February 19th, 1983
tracks 2-8: recorded at the MMP Studios, Waalwijk, The Netherlands, November until December 1983. Rough mixed at the MMP Studios, Waalwijk, The Netherlands, January 1984.
CODA - Sound Of Passion [1986]
2007 Pseudonym Records
2CD [21th anniversary edition]
CBR320 / scan
O Púbis da Rosa
