I generally find that the German sympho sounds a bit dusty, Insular sympho a bit cold and Dutch sympho a bit underweight. “Touch Wood” has that typical Dutch sound; floating keyboards, gliding guitars and drums that should have been more defined in the mix. The only instrument that provides a solid body for the songs is the delightful bass of Pieter Drost. The typical production suits the band`s philosophy that music should ‘live’ and is also a result of the independent status of the band.
Another characteristic of Dutch sympho are the daring and sometimes even experimental vocal melodies.

Mangrove makes no exception. The melodies might take a little time to get used to, but the husky vocals of Ronald van der Horst definitely fit in with the music. With “Touch Wood” Mangrove tried to revivify the symphonic rock scene. In my opinion they’re turning in the right direction, but I hope that Mangrove will make up for the lack of dynamics (partly due to the production) in the future. Mangrove is a band with potential and is a promise for the future.