UNIFAUN

The roots of this Swedish two-piece band (with an additional drummer on two tracks) are a concert by the awesome Canadian Genesis tribute band The Musical Box in 2003: multi-instrumentalist Nad Sylvan decides to post on the Genesis forum and then makes contact with kebyoardplayer Bonamici, the result is the Genesis cover band Unifaun that describes their music as 'a Genesis soundscape band'. Along the covers the two members also wrote own material, the fans are very pleased with those compositions and beg Unifaun to make an album with that material. In the end the progrock label Progress Records enables Unifaun to make an own CD and in 2008 their eponymous debut CD is released.

After my first listening session I was quite disappointed because I had expected a pure Wind & Wuthering sound but Unifaun delivers a blend of the more commercial sounding A Trick Of The Tail songs, the polished progpop on And Then There Were Three and 24-carat symphonic rock like on Selling England By The Pound, some The Lamb material and Wind & Wuthering, all layared with very Phil Collins inspired vocals (not really 'my cup of tea' singer). But after few more turns gradually I started to appreciate their wonderful and elaborate music featuring soms very strong musical moments with a lush vintage keyboard sound, from majestic choir-Mellotron waves to quick ARP Pro Solist synthesizer flights, frequently supported by beautiful abd often sensitive Steve Hackett-like guitarwork. The most symphonic rock inspired music on this CD are during Mr. Marmaduke And The Minister (alternating with a varied vintage keyboard sound), the instrumental Rehacksis (strong break with guitar and swelling keyboards), the long and captivating Quest For The Last Virtue (from dreamy with twanging 12-string guitars and soaring choir- Mellotron to compelling with Hackett-like guitar and Phil Collins-like vocals), the short instrumental Finistere (wonderful interplay between organ and Mellotron) and the beautiful, also instrumental final composition End-Or-Fin (the climate shifts from a more polished ATOTT to The Lamb-sounding pieces because of the ARP Pro Solist sound), the build-up is great and culminates into a compelling 24-carat symphonic rock grand finale featuring very tasteful interplay between guitar, keyboards and the propulsive rhythm-section.

So if you are up to Phil Collins-like vocals and a blend of more polished prog and genuine symphonic rock, this Unifaun debut CD is a very fine album to experience, their website will tell you more. My rating: 3,5 stars.

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