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18 Months ago Leap Day surprised me with their debut album 'Awaking The Muse'. The beautiful melodies and their exceptional way of song writing grabbed my attention right away and it has never let go since. Now they've come up with 'Skylge's Lair', their second studio album. I bought it after their concert in Blue Note, Poznan (Poland) which was overwhelming. So is their newest album!

The Messenger The song starts out with a tense sequencer and the voice of someone, lots of different sounds, screaming children and builds up to the basic theme of the song: an intriguing guitar melody. Then Harteveld's vocals take the lead in a rocking and lively song. (9/10)

Road To Yourself This song builds up slowly. Harteveld is probably at his best here. Beautiful vocals, especial the part after the very inciting symphonic intermezzo (''and the next day is like the day before''). (9/10)

Home At Last The song starts with a typical Leap Day tune, very tasteful written and performed. The kind of tune that keeps on spinning in your head all day long. When the vocals come in the song is very rocky! Then there is this beautiful bass solo. Peter Stel is a superb bass player! I loved him punish his bass guitar during their live performance in Poznan! (10/10)

Humble Origin The shortest track on the album is an instrumental. Beautiful played (and written) by Mulder. This man is a guitar virtuoso who reminds me of Hackett. The Flower Kings also come to mind in this song. Only guitar and mellotron on this one. (10/10)

Walls I knew this song already because it is on YouTube for a while now. What a superb song this is! It starts with a heavy theme (which returns at the end of the song in a beautiful tender reprise!), followed by only piano and vocals. After that an overwhelming 7/8 theme occurs, ending in a very symphonic apotheosis towards the end theme. And the end theme is just awesome!! 'Awaken' of Yes comes to mind right away! Brilliant song! (10/10)

The Willow Tree A beautiful song by Jos Harteveld. Only vocals, guitars and mellow strings. (8/10)

Skylge's Lair The title song is also an instrumental one. When I look at the cover of the album the song is all about an island or so. It starts with seagulls and a waving sea and then the theme starts. This is one of the most uplifting instrumentals I've heard in a long time! Great guitar work of Eddie Mulder and a delightful key solo. I don't know which one of the keyboard players does this solo, but because Gert van Engelenburg wrote this instrumental I assume he did this solo as well. Great work! (10/10)

Time Passing By A very good ending to an awesome album of these Dutch musicians! With a surprise at the end of the disc, showcasing the band's feel for humour! But you figure that out for yourself. (9/10)

All in all a masterpiece! This one will end on top of my list for 2011 for sure. No less than 5 well deserved stars!! And hopefully soon back in Poland for I can't wait to see those guys play again!

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