Dutch band Trespassers W have been around for a long time, releasing CD’s on a large number of independent labels, in this case Chicago-based Somnimage. Part of a trilogy of albums on Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’roll, this CD is the second instalment, and the drugs we all need aren’t just what our governments call "drugs". As usual, Trespassers W relish in stories and histories, be they Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky’s relationship or the story of silent movies star Asta Nielsen; even in this accessible CD we find a wealth of figures, historical or imaginary, a kaleidoscope of styles and imagery. Trespassers W have often conceived their releases as well-defined projects, theme-driven or thick-laden with references to our European heritage of art and culture, high and low. Singer and lyricist Cor Gout – the one with the deep voice – sings or tells or intones what are obviously richly textured lyrics. Therefore it pays to read the lyrics at least once. This does not mean that Trespassers W are not capable to rock and push, just that they combine energy, subtlety and thoughtfulness and consequently require attention from their listeners. I made the mistake to listen to this CD on a car stereo the first time and missed out on most of its virtues, except in the most direct songs, such as "roadmaster eldorado", suitable for car-rides, or "viva la corrida!". Otherwise I had to give the CD a second chance, give it the time to seep through, and it worked much better. Having said that, not all 17 tracks made an impression on me, as if the band wanted to enjoy themselves (rocking out in "the merry go round", for instance) while most of the listener’s attention was drawn by Cor’s vocals, which always stays well on top and isn’t enough varied to sustain all the emotions evident in TW music. The effect is somehow of a band who tries too much, which is strange since according to the band’s statements there was a lot of playing around and improvisation in the recording sessions. Brilliantly arranged songs like "candy floss" show the strength of the group. Maybe they have always too many arrows to shoot at the same time: they can go progressive, art-rock, rock’n’roll, literate cabaret. It’s kind of hard to let them all live together and thrive in a single CD...