The Press About " A SOPHISTICATED FACE " :

- Review (& ratings) at rateyourmusic.com : rateyourmusic.com/release/album/blast_f1/a_sophisticated_face/

-Review @ Progwereld (in Dutch) : www.progwereld.org/recensie/blast-a-sophisticated-face/

- Review in allmusic.com : www.allmusic.com/album/a-sophisticated-face-mw0000671055

- Review in Prog Archives : www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=17303

- “ Blast are an amazing Dutch progressive quintet and this is their third & best release for Cuneiform. Blast are fronted by two soprano saxists who double on other reeds, guitars, el. bass & drums, with five more guests on trumpets, violin, cello/cymbalom, marimba & percussion. The composing and playing often remind me of that wonderful Henry Cow-like swirling, ever- changing finesse with chamber group type of instrumentation. They often sound as if they are just about to break into "Ruins" from 'Unrest' - a prog milestone if there ever was one. The difference is that on this release, Blast never rock out, rather there is mainly breath-taking avant classical playing, well thought out and quirky, spacious, but never too dense. This entire work sounds as if it was composed by one great (Dutch) new music/contemporary classical composer, rather than an entire quintet of composers, this is how successful it is overall. Once again, there is little soloing happening here, since the composing is interesting enough on it's own, the flow of ideas is constantly in motion. Both electric & acoustic instruments are well balanced, even the brooding fuzz-bass and sustained guitar are used most minimally for a change. Well done “
- Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery


- " Essentially a miniature orchestra; employing guitar, trumpet, soprano, alto & baritone sax, alto clarinet, violin, cello, cymbalom, bass & percussion.....
This reminds me of Richard Woodson's Ellipsis quite a bit in that it features extremely complex and exceptionally dissonant (in a good way) instrumentation that is very rewarding to listen to. This is contemporary Chamber Rock that will have you experiencing ear orgasms galore. Highly recommended! Very Dark stuff here.
Thinking Plague meets early Univers Zero is how I would describe them. simply excellent! "
(Amazon Customer ,5.0 out of 5 stars Complex Chamber Rock at it's best!. Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2007).

-"Taking 'A.S.F.' on its own terms, then , the record is brilliant, possibly some of the most imaginative music i've heard!"
(Tone cluster # 74 , Dec.1999)

-"A.S.F. arguably stands as one of the best contemporary music releases of 1999. "
(D.Lynch , All music guide)

-"Blast are clearly a band dedicated to smashing down barriers and trying out new ideas. Wich is as it should be."
(Audion, Jan. 2000)

-"Les composition sont d'une finesse absolue, cachant leur complexité par une maitrise exemplaire des sons et des instruments. Superbe!"
(Opposition De Phase, 2000)

-"If one can appreciate the extremes of precision and complexity, then this is the real thing.....some of the most amazing & completely insane chamber rock of the day."
(Exposé, 2000)

-"Difficult arrangements abound as the complex structure of each piece evolves and unwinds. Intense and extreme."
(Record collector, Jan. 2000)

-" Daar sta je dan met je twee oren en je weet er gaat iets gebeuren, maar je doet er niets aan. Je geniet ervan. Dan volgt de bevrijdende knal. Blast!"
(H. Prenger, Opscene, March 2000)

-"Samen neemt het tiental u via de minst doorgrondelijke wegen mee naar het land der immer wisselende ritmes van de gestructureerde chaos die overheerst wordt door knotsgekke blazerspassages en onvoorspelbare percussie en strijkersuitspattingen. Proficiat en doe zo verder!"
(Stage nr.55, Dec. 1999)

-"Blast maakt duister in zichzelf rondwentelende muziek, geknipt als soundtrack over graviteitsputten en zwarte gaten."
(de Volkskrant, March 2000)