Reviewed by DBSilver on 05 Jul 2002

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With Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree) mixing 2 tracks and Tim Bowness (No-Man) on guitar there are connections to both bands however musically, this album shows a stronger jazzier as well as psychedelic influence than either band. The result is a no less talented or enjoyable album.
Fudge Smith demonstrates technical skills in the fusion realm that are not normally on display in his alter-ego as Pendragon's drummer. Musically it is easy to hear No-Man due especially to the vocals of Bowness, while there are also Porcupine Tree and King Crimson references throughout. Long-time Prog listeners will also recognize early Pink Floyd and Soft Machine while those with more obscure tastes will find plenty of Rain Tree Crow in the resulting product while a track like #6 - Blindman One has a VDGG feel in portions of the instrumentals.
At times this music sounds like a soundtrack - the moody music filled with ambient and electronic imagery interspersed with occasional vocal tracks. When the music builds to high energy it suddenly transitions to calm and then quiet before the next swell.
The performer list brings us to the band with some preconceived notions while these are only met in the strong similarities the band's songs have with No-Man. As a result - this is not a recording that will bring the listener in from a few casual listens. Serious listening and multiple plays do expose a finely crafted and successful debut. Henry Fool is an auspicious start yeilding a new mix of old and new prog styling with a proggish bend on fusion. This is a band on my 'watch-list'.