Remco Schoenmakers:

"Henry Fool can be described as a psychedelic version of Porcupine Tree or Echolyn. Two tracks are actually mixed by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree so there the connection is made. Also Tim Bowness, vocalist and guitar player on this album, is the vocalist of No-man in which he works together with Steve Wilson. The band consist of six members, but most of the compositions are done by Steve Bennett and Tim Bowness. It took almost a year to complete this album, which does show. Although the tracks are heavily rooted in jazz and psychedelic influences, the progressive rock elements are unmistakable. The vocals of Bowness, which can be heard for the first time on Midnight Days, the first part of a large five piece composition called Lateshow, are both melancholic and subtle. The unconventional music of the sextet features quite some saxophone and clarinet adding to the freestyle jazz feeling that pops up now and again (e.g. in Poppy Z). The good thing about the compositions is that at the moment they have grown into a frantic climax, they suddenly relax and take you on a moody calm trip, which in its turn is just the silence before the storm of the next movement.

The fine composition Lateshow is a good example where Blindman Two almost explodes but Grounded brings us a very mellow almost Camelesque recurrence of the main theme that was laid down in Midnight Days. The album is rich on different organ sounds, all adding to the mellow jazzy, late sixties atmosphere. Somehow, this music is like those French artistic movies. On the one hand you don't like them, on the other hand they grasp your attention and before you know it, you have enjoyed it. A small minor point, is the recurrence of the same vocal theme of Lateshow in Judy on the Brink. Some more originality would have been in order here. The David Warner Wish List is extremely psychedelic, almost too much for me. It is like Interstellar Overdrive of Pink Floyd squared.

This is an album for experienced listeners. Complex, jazzy and psychedelic. However, once mastered it is quite enjoyable.

Conclusion: 7 out of 10."