MYSTERY

Classy, melodic and inventive.

The title says it all: Canadian prog rockers Mystery just love Holland. They love celebrated Dutch venue Boerderij even more, which is why this live recording, taken from their set at Prog Dreams V two years ago, is named in honour of what they see as their second home. Perhaps best known as being the band whose vocalist at the time, Benoît David, joined Yes after Jon Anderson had been unceremoniously dumped in 2008, David ironically also succumbed to vocal problems. He was replaced by Jean Pageau, whose graceful tones go a long way to making this live set the engaging listen it is. Most credit is due to long-standing guitarist Michel St-Père, who has guided Mystery since he formed the band back in 1986. If it’s classy, melodic and inventive progressive rock you want, Mystery are the band for you. The bulk of Second Home (also available on CD) draws from their most recent 2015 studio album Delusion Rain, and although 2010’s excellent One Among The Living is largely ignored, they do dip back to 1998’s Destiny? with Shadow Of The Lake. Professionally shot, although perhaps lacking a touch of glitz, Second Home certainly rams home the point that Mystery deserve to be a much bigger band than they currently are. JE