01	Delerium						03:15
	02	Contrast						05:11
	03	Vuurstaal						03:10
	04	Chinese In Europe						03:19
	05	Circle						06:31
	06	The Sage Of The Running Nose						18:54
	07	Contrast						03:41
	08	Circle						02:50
	09	There's Always A Reason						05:19
	10	Ohne Worte						05:14

Bonfire - Bonfire Goes Bananas

Released: 1994 (reissue)
Label: Made In Japan
Cat. No.: Belle Antique 9468
Total Time: 57:30


Reviewed by: John "Bo Bo" Bollenberg, March 2001
When Focus suddenly ceased to exist, record company EMI was strongly looking for a decent replacement. They (thought they had) found it in Bonfire who not only got a record deal but was also given all of the Focus equipment, even including their tour bus!

Unfortunately Bonfire didn't make it, although their only album still stands as a nice example of Dutch progressive rock in the seventies, finding it's deserved place next to Focus, Solution and especially Finch. Bonfire's music at times is very reminiscent of Greenslade, especially when the Fender Rhodes piano sounds at its best. Then again "Chinese In Europe" has a lot of Camel elements from the Mirage-era.

Absolute highlight is the 18-minute long epic "The Sage Of The Running Nose" (which probably should've been "... runny nose" and therefore illustrates perfectly the literal translations from the Dutch!). Like with most of the Bonfire material, the composition is from keyboard man Frank Witte, whilst a lot of space has been reserved for ace guitar player Eugene Den Hoed. Guitar and electric piano often climb the scales together which results in some unique tension.

There are also four bonus tracks added. Apart from the edited single versions of the band's only 45 rpm, "Contrast" and "Circle", it contains two further unissued recordings, those being "There's Always A Reason" and "Ohne Worte." Surely a very important re-release.

More about Bonfire Goes Bananas:

Track Listing: Delirium (3:14) / Contrast (5:10) / Vuurstaal (3:10) / Chinese In Europe (Part I) (3:17) / Circle (6:29) / The Sage Of The Running Nose (18:50) / Bonustracks: Contrast (Single Version) (3:38) / Circle (Single Version) 2:48) / There's Always A Reason (Previously Unreleased) (516) / Ohne Worte (Previously Unreleased) (5:14)

Musicians:
Tracks 1-8:

Frank Witte - Fender Rhodes, vibes, grand piano, recorders
Kees Den Hoed - bass, gong
Eugane Den Hoed - guitars, flute
Gees Meerman - drums, windchimes

Tracks 9-10:

Frank Witte - keyboards, vocals
Harald Heynen - guitar
Michel Van Schie - bass
Jaap De Weyer - drums

Discography

Bonfire Goes Bananas (1975)

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Bonfire [Netherlands]

Discography
Bonfire Goes Bananas (74)

Reviews
Wonderful, all-instrumental jazzy progressive rock band. I'm not sure if they are Belgian or Dutch in origin, but their 1974 album Bonfire Goes Bananas (recorded in Brussels, but my copy was issued on Dutch EMI) is a real stunner, and still sounds fresh, inventive and frisky 22 years later! Although their music is almost certainly influenced by Hatfield, the Softs, and perhaps other 'Canterbury' bands, Bonfire's sound is very original and rewarding on its own terms. The playing is superb throughout, and compositions (mostly by keyboardist Frank Witte) are tricky, convoluted, full of musical puns, but are still very tuneful. Highly recommended! -- Dave Wayne

This was a band who tried to stun audience with well balanced use of usual chords and less usual ones (dissonant). Well they succeeded at least by few of us who like their results. Musically, they are a mixture of straight hard/heavy rock patterns with Cantebury style fusion, sort of music only Dutchmen can do. Groovy and complex (to some extent). They may be close to their compatriots Supersister or to Finns Wigwam (due to the heavy sounding organ) and are heavily influenced by Focus. They must have been listening to the Samla Mammas Manna as well, because there's a lot of similar sounding quirks on the album ("Vuurstaal part II.", "Chinese in Europe", etc.). If I'd have only blank CD (without credits, without titles, etc.) I'd swear these are the Mummies' Mana-collectors, trying to do straighter rock album (ha!). Also worth to mention is 18+' long "The Stage of the Running Nose", which reminds me of Hatfields. CD-reissue contains four bonus tracks, two shortened version of two LP songs, and two unreleased, which are of lesser quality and sound much like Focus on rockier side. Well, I could survive even without these two earlier efforts, but CD is from japanese source, and Japanese' seem to be pretty "omnivorous" regarding everything what comes from the West. The original LP tracks are fortunately in majority and are excellent. Do not let the Japanese price change your mind, when you'll see this in catalogue of your favorite distro-label. Recommended!! -- Nenad Kobal