DA 63 PROJEKT

Putting on the album and listening immediately to some finger popping bass I knew that I was heading deep into jazz territory, something that wasn't totally unexpected given that the release was on the Canadian Unicorn label. The rest of the band joined in and I was struck by the tightness of what I was listening to. But that guitar seemed a little heavy to be jazz, and ever so slowly the song turned from jazz rock to highly complex prog that had jazz influences. The vocals are good, but a little laid-back and not as dominant as they could be, with the focus very much on the instruments. When these guys fly, they don't need wings, and the result is an album that is immensely enjoyable and interesting.

They say that their main influences are Dream Theatre, Queensryche, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny which is certainly an eclectic mix to say the least. They appear to be happiest when meddling with jazz in one form or another but they are definitely fusing it with rock in a way that makes the music more intense and heavier than one would expect from Metheny. I can understand when they state the heavier influences, because there are times when there is no doubt at all that this is a rock band, and not four guys bent over their instruments in pain playing trad.

An album that is certainly diverse, and worth investigating for those who are looking for something a little different but certainly with plenty of strong musicianship.

Originally appeared in Feedback #80, Sept 2004