The title of Tom Janssen’s independently released album “The Element Of Surprise” is also the title of the opening track of the disc. The title might suit this track perfectly but it does not entirely cover the whole album. The instrumental opener, with its very dominant keyboards did definitely surprise me but in a way that I did not feel any urge to listen to the rest of the songs. As a reviewer you have the obligation to listen to the entire album, a good thing because I found out that most of the other songs on the disc are much more in line with my personal likings.

Janssen was responsible for most of the instruments, all the writing, the production and the mastering of the album. The other musicians on “The Element Of Surprise” are Vincent Bodt on drums, Henke Lamers and Elles Jansen, both vocals. I’m not very fond of Lamers; his vocals are regularly over the top.
“The Element Of Surprise” comes recommended to readers with a love for a modern, atmospheric and at some times a little psychedelic (“Stardance”) album with some rough edges here and there.

But beware: the album also features some easy listening, melodic tunes such as “Guardian Angel” and the groovy “Don’t Give It Up”, both will definitely be too light for most of you. This brings me at my main point of criticism: “The Element Of Surprise” is in my opinion merely a collection of individual songs. All songs will surely be appealing to a lot of people, but I doubt whether there are people that will like all songs aka the entire album. Highlights on the album are the tracks “Spider” and “Stardance” were Janssen definitely surprises with quick complex and rather experimental tunes. Tracks like “Guardian Angel” and “The Air That I Breathe” - tracks where Janssen is playing safe - I could have done without. These are not bad tracks, but in no way above average. It all makes for an album worth checking out.