Year: 2009
Record Label: Cuneiform Records
Style: Fusion
Musicians: Patrick Forgas (drums), Sebastien Trognon (tenor and soprano saxophones), Dimitri Alexaline (trumpet, flugelhorn), Benjamin Violet (guitar), Karolina Mlodecka (violin), Igor Brover (keyboards), Kengo Mochizuki (bass)
Review: French drummer Patrick Forgas is a catalyst and rock solid composer who merges a “now” sounding vibe with a touch of the fabled British Canterbury scene, where stately melodies seamlessly merge with astute technical acumen. The drummer’s fourth release under the band moniker is an aural treat from start to finish.
Strong material wins on almost all occasions. It’s an ensemble on the move via an up-tempo mode of execution that is steeped within harmonious passages and sweet overtones. But it’s not all about sugary, progressive-rock pieces. Contrarily, the soloists let it rip in choice spots while projecting a capacious string of events, accelerated by the pumping and sturdy rhythmic component.
The band transmits a cunning blend of warmth and torrid soloing jaunts, sometimes brushed with an air of innocence, given the memorably melodic hooks. And in various movements they render complex unison choruses to drive home a motif. Yet, one of the album highpoints pertains to the hornists’ contrapuntal statements as they colorfully offset phrasings by Mlodecka and guitarist Benjamin Violet.
On La 12eme Lune (The 13th Moon), Sebastien Trognon’s whispery flute patterns offer an attractive contrast to the unison horns while Igor Brover massages the arrangement with a darkly woven synth solo. Sure enough, Forgas’ latest body of work commands repeated listens. It’s a crystalline fusion of 70s prog with a thoroughly modern uplift, engineered upon compositions that yield the rewarding factors.
Record Label Website: http://www.cuneiformrecords.com
Artist's Website: http://www.myspace.com/forgasbandphenomena
Reviewed by:
Glenn Astarita
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