line up 1  (1974)

- Beer Klaasse -- drums, percussion

- Joop van Nimwegan -- guitar

- Paul Vink -- keyboards, synthesizers

- Peter Vink -- bass

  line up 2  (1974-76)

NEW - Cleem Determeijer -- keyboards, synthesizers (replaced 

  Paul Vink)

- Beer Klaasse -- drums, percussion

- Joop van Nimwegan -- guitar

- Peter Vink -- bass

  line up 3  (1976--77)

NEW - Hans Bosboom -- drums, percussion (replaced 

  Beer Klaasse)

- Joop van Nimwegan -- guitar

- Peter Vink -- bass

NEW - Ad Wammes -- keyboards, synthesizers (replaced Cleem Determeijer)

  line up 4  (1977-78)

NEW - Fred van Vloton -- drums, percussion (replaced Hans Bosboom)

- Joop van Nimwegan -- guitar

- Peter Vink -- bass

- Ad Wammes -- keyboards, synthesizers

- Alveo

- Ayreon

- Big Wheel (Peter Vink)

- Blues Sessions

- The Boxx (Cleem Determeije and Peter Wink)

- Chafing Blues

- Cobra

- Crusade

- Groep 1850 (Beer Klaasse) 

- Livin' Blues (Beer Klaasse)

- Montoya (Ad Wammes)

- Q65 (Joop van Nimwegan and Peter Vink)

- Twelve O'Clock (Paul Vink and Joop van Nimwegan)

- Veralin (Cleem Determeije and Peter Wink)

Genre: progressive

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Glory of the Inner Force

Company: ATCO

Catalog:  SD 36 124
Year: 1975

Country/State: The Hague, Holland

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: small cut out notch on edge

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 2666

Price: $30.00

Wow, Dutch power pop at it's best ...  not !   So, if you liked Focus, but that band was the limit of your Dutch progressive band insight, then you might want to checkout the largely unknown Finch.

Former Q65 bassist Peter Vink (Vink translating as Finch in English) and ex-Groep 1850 drummer Beer Klaasse formed the band in 1974.  They quickly recruited guitarist  Joop van Nimwegan (who'd also played in Q65), and Peter's brother Paul on keyboards.  Paul was quickly replaced by Cleem Determeijer; then a student at the Rotterdam Academy of Music.

Signed by the Dutch Negram label, the band made their debut with 1974's Roy Beltman produced "Glory of the Inner Force".   Riding high on it's success with Focus, Atlantic's ATCO subsidiary signed the band to an American distribution agreement.  With van Nimwegan responsible for all of the material, the album featured a series of four extended instrumentals - the shortest of the four "Register Magister" clocked in at over nine minutes.. The band apparently decided none of the members were very strong in the vocals department, so focused their attention on instrumentals.   Anyhow, if you were looking to hear some George Baker Selection, or Shocking Blues styled Dutch pop, then go no further.  Extended, progressive numbers like "Paradoxical Moods" and "A Bridge To Alice" were going to be diametrically opposed to those top-40 sounds.  Even if you were a progressive fan looking for a slice of "Hocus Pocus" styled  progressive-pop, this set was liable to be disappointing.  So who's going to get into this one ?  Well anyone into mid-'70s symphonic rock was liable to find it enjoyable. If you liked John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Focus (overlooking their fluke hit), or Yes, then there was probably something here for you.  In fact, looking at the album cover and title, McLaughlin seemingly had a big influence on these guys.   I'm not a massive progressive fan, but to my ears the four tracks were musically dense and complex, but also surprisingly melodic - check out van Nimwegan's beautiful acoustic guitar work on "A Bridge To Alice".  All four members were talented, but  van Nimwegan was one helluva guitarist, occasionally reminding me a bit of Focus' Jan Akkerman.  Just listened to it again after a couple of years and have to admit I'm still surprised at how much I like this album.

Glory of the Inner Force" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Register Magister (instrumental) (Joop van Nimwegan) - 9:18  rating: **** stars

Since I don't have a musical background, I can't descrive technical complexities of a song like the instrumental "Register Magister" (quirky time signatures and all kinds of stuff only hardcore progressive fans would be able to discuss).  What I can tell you is the tune slips and slides through a variety of segments, most which are quite melodic, while giving all four members a moment in the spotlight.  In other words, it rocks along at a pretty good pace.  My favorite section - Vink's bass work around the 7:30 marker.

2.) Paradoxical Moods (instrumental) (Joop van Nimwegan) - 10:20 rating: **** stars

Not quite funky, but powered by Joop van Nimwegan's scratchy guitar "Paradoxical Moods" certainly started out with a nifty rhythm.  Around the 1:45 mark the song started going through abrupt tempo shifts showcasing van Nimwagen's melodic guitar and Determeijer mellotron and organ washes.  Not sure why, but I quite enjoy this one, though I can understand why critics might label it as nothing more than wonking (always loved that word).  It certainly makes ten minutes fly buy.

(side 2) 

1.) Pisces (instrumental) (Joop van Nimwegan) - 9:30 rating:*** stars

To my ear "Pisces" sounded like it was introducing a touch of jazz-rock fusion to their mix.  In part fur to the abrupt timing shifts, it wasn't as immediately catchy as anything on side one, though I liked van Nimwagen's Pink Floyd-ish segment around the 4:00 mark.

3.) A Bridge To Alice  (instrumental)  (Joop van Nimwegan) - 13:12 rating:*** stars

The longest and most complex of the four tracks, "A Bridge To Alice" was also the most challenging piece to my ears.  To me the highlight came around the seven minute mark where van Nimwegan turned in some wonderful acoustic guitar.  Less impressive was the following segment which sounded like martial music composed for a "B" flick soundtrack.

 I always wondered why ATCO bothered to play around with the cover art.  It was essentially the same, except for the background colors - the Dutch original (Negram catalog number NR 107) being brown, while the US release used sky blue.  Also worth mentioning, the Dutch release included a bonus 45.  Given how good it was, it's a mystery why the tune wasn't included on the album.

- 1975's "Colossus Part 1" (instrumental) b/w "Colossus Part 2" (instrumental) (Negram catalog number NG 2024)

© Scott R. Blackerby September 2025