FLUID DRUID

Despite this British band was strongly influenced by the most melodic side of YES, "Fluid Druid" isn't a copy or a clone. In the same vein of another great (and underrated) group of the same period (ENGLAND), DRUID took the best elements of the 70's monsters and made an album plenty of quality and beauty.

Dane, the vocalist, seems to sing like Jon Anderson, but he sounds derivative, not imitative. Guitar player job (as Howe) is extremely good. All tracks are very enjoyable altough not really complex, being present all the best classic symphonic rock characteristics: frequent and surprising changes, majestic chorus, fantastic melodies and elaborated instrumentation.

"Razor Truth" and "Painters Clouds" are two magnificent tracks where the YES influence is easy to recognize, and "Barnaby" is a sort of a reggae rythm short song, but the pearls are "FM 145" (mostly instrumental Camel-esque beauty), "Crusade" (what an unique song!) and the mini suite "Left To Find" (a progressive jewel: it begins like a YES theme but suddenly a delicious flute invades the ambience and melody flows slowly, in crescendo with piano and guitar, creating a special atmosphere. We can find some CAMEL influence here again).

"Fluid Druid" is a very recommended album, very melodic and beautiful, and a must for all YES fans.