Release Date: 22nd
March 2014
Label: Indie
When this album, Second Sound, appeared for review, I thought back to the band’s
debut, which was self-titled, Druckfarben,
and was released in 2011. It is always interesting to follow the evolution of a
band from album to album and it is obvious that the band have grown in stature
and confidence in what they do. Originally formed around 2007, Druckfarben
started off by doing covers of bands including
Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Kansas and others of that ilk.
Growing from this point, the band members started to provide their own
compositions and have not looked back.
Druckfarben is a 5 piece band and comprises Phil Naro
(vocals, guitar), Ed Bernard (vocals, guitar, violin and mandolin), Troy Feener
(drums, percussion), Peter Murray (vocals, bass and violin) and William Hare
(vocals, keyboards). Ed and Troy were old schoolfriends from the 80’s, so the
beginnings on the band were in place long before anything came to fruition.
Second
Sound is an 8 track album with a total playing time of
around 56 minutes. The shortest of the 8 tracks is track 2, “In Disbelief” with
a running time of 3:29 minutes and the title, and final, track “Second
Sound,” takes on almost epic proportions
with a playing time of 18:48 minutes.
The album bursts into life quickly with the start to
“An Answer Dreaming” (6:59) as there is a flurry of keyboard (Will Hare), ably
backed by a very tight drum/bass pairing (Troy Feener/Peter Murray), before the
chunky guitar (Ed Bernard) makes an appearance, which only leaves the vocalist
join in. Prior to that there is a superb keyboard passage over the top of
everything and then, eventually the stage is set for the vocals of Phil Naro to
burst into life, just after the 2 minute mark. There is a touch of the Jon
Anderson vocalisations about Phil, before there is a harmonious section, and
then a return to a style which seems to encompass the classic Yes and gives more
than a little nod to Spocks Beard. Superb atmospherics within the track as the
sound floats from gentle keyboards/guitar to the fuller band sound and at
around 5:15 minutes the tempo changes to allow a plaintive piano passage before
the stunning guitar soars to take the track onwards, with the band building the
sound slowly. “An Answer Dreaming” is a very satisfactory start to Second Sound.
Another brisk start to “In Disbelief” (3:29) with some
excellent keyboards which then take a step back, allowing the guitar to take
off before the keyboards reappear revitalised. I must admit to being a bit
disappointed when the vocals appeared as they seemed a bit at odds with the
superb music. So much potential with this track, but it just doesn’t hit the
bullseye.
“Dandelion” (5:07) offers more excellent keyboards, the
chance for Ed to show off a bit more guitar, as well as contribute some nifty
violin passages, but while the vocals add a bit to the track, they still don’t
seem to sit quite properly. “Liberated Dream” (4:26) accepts the baton from
track 3 and shows a similar style with the keyboards/guitar driving the track
along, but again I feel that the vocal sections just don’t gel properly, which
is a real pity.
Track 5, “Long Walk Down” (5:03) is very different with
beautiful piano, around which the more relaxed vocal actually fits perfectly along
with the counterpoint melodies. The keyboards then have a terrific passage,
revisit the vocals, then piano and subdued guitar sit just behind the voice
before the piano is replaced by another keyboard. This is a track where it all
comes together really well.
We are back to more familiar ground with “Surrounds Me”
(7:23), before there is a total change for “Another Day” (5:23). A mandolin
intro leads onto harmonies that gently take the track on with just a slight
hint of discord from time to time, which then explodes into a keyboard
extravaganza soon to be joined by guitar before every instrument disappears and
the track runs out a cappella.
The epic “Second Sound” (18:48), has a piano/violin
introduction which is very different to everything that has gone before, and
certainly dips a toe into the water of Celtic territory, inhabited by the likes
of Horslips. Just before the 3 minute mark, the full effect of the drums and
bass boost the sound, although the violin still interjects a bit of the Celtic.
The track really ebbs and flows with some superb sections filled with guitar,
and at times, banjo, majestic keyboards and vocals that sweep in and out of the
proceedings. This is a massive piece of work and I feel makes up for some of
the other tracks apparent failures to fully integrate the music with the
vocals.
Second
Sound certainly shows an evolution of Druckfarben from the
debut album, which I have to admit, I was not particularly taken with. There
are moments of simply stunning music on show here, but I feel that Second Sound does not always work. “An
Answer Dreaming,” “Long Walk Down,” “Another Day” and “Second Sound” I
certainly found refreshing, different and most of all, interesting and
exciting.
Second
Sound is a difficult album to decide upon its “star award”
and I can see listeners falling into the “either/or” categories. I’m sure some
people will either love this album, or not. One part of me is desperate to
award 5/5 stars, and if the whole of the album was as good as the final track,
I would do so, but as it is, it doesn’t quite get there.
My advice to people is to give Second Sound a few listens and make up their own mind about what
Druckfarben have served up on album No 2. I will certainly dip into some of the
album again and again, and I might also use the epic title track as a “long”
track on my radio show.
4/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Long Walk Down, Another Day,
Second Sound
August 11, 2014
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
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