The years leading up to this album were not easy for Moke. The group lost a lot of their instruments and equipment in a fire. Before that, guitarist-from-the-first-hour Phil Tilli had also left the band. His replacement, Robin Berlin, is a heavyweight (figuratively) who earned his spurs with Fatal Flowers and Ellen ten Damme's band. With Berlin on board, Moke still sounds like a well-oiled rock
… machine. The criticism that was often blamed on the group ('not original') is, based on this fourth Moke album, not entirely justified. Moke also seems less busy with the general public or writing a 3FM hit. That does not mean that Moke's songs no longer easily roll in the ear. On the contrary, but on The Time Has Come the Amsterdammers sound more personal than ever and that is good news. (PdK)more
