TWIN SUNRISE

This is a Brasilian four piece band with additional musicians, in 1992 they released their eponymous debut CD and 3 years later this CD entitled Twin Sunrise. The sound on both albums is similar: in general long compostions featuring bombastic keyboards, fiery electric guitar (between Steve Rothery and David Gilmour), many shifting moods and breaks and pleasant variation on instruments (acoustic guitar, piano, flute, choir and strings). Remarkable is the powerful sound of the 5-string bass guitar in some songs. If you like Pendragon, Jadis and early Marillion this is a fine band to discover, not really earthshaking but just entertaining 24-carat symphonic rock.

I seem to continue liking this record after already a dozen years or so, even though it's not the most "grab your throat" complex prog workout available. More like a trusted companion by virtue of apparent modesty and an uncanny desire to please. Masterpiece ? No not really, but a definite should have. Opener "Midday" serves up an appropriate introduction, a shining upbeat instrumental that showcases the identity of the crew, with prolific 5 string bass runs, majestic guitar excursions, sparkling melodic keys and dynamic drumming. Being from Brazil, this is no hurry-up kick-ass prog but truer to its warm cultural heritage and spirit, they set a languid, relaxed pace best displayed on the next opus "The Search", where cool exploration yields some fine piano tinkling and exciting axe ripples, featuring guest female vocals (aided by some weird noises and laughter) and offering up a grandiose finale. Next up, the enthralling "Burn the Witch", where a string quintet settles comfortably with a delicate flute, a breezy little ditty, so soothing and its time for a cool "Bavaria"! On "Hymn", you guessed it! The band showcases the Choir, weaving another solid composition into the fray. "The Place" caters to some excellent male vocals, giving the track a healthy dose of growl without losing focus of their name brand laid back attitude, with some fanfare parping synths showing the way. "The Landing" is an imperial piece loaded with atmospherics (crackling thunder, cascading sheets of torrential rain, creaking doors, footsteps.), all window dressing for a 10 minute epic symphonic prog etude , very deliberate in its buildup , adding to the trepidation. The finale title track, a 12 minute sweet adventure puts the exclamation mark firmly on the charming value of owning this record , where keyman Renato Coutinho, drummer Daniel Mello, guitarist Fernando Campos and bassist Barao get to deliver their obvious passion for prog . Brigadinha!Oh, I forgot, a beautiful cover with engaging artwork. 4.5 estrellas

Twin Sunrise (1995) is the second, and sadly last, album by Brazilian 4-piece band Dogma. The music on offer here is very much of the melodic and harmonious variety. Not to everyone's taste admittedly, but certainly mine. None of the regular band members sing so a few guest singers handle the sparse vocals on the disc. The album is a nice mix of short and long tracks that range from the 4- to 12-minute mark, with the longer ones having plenty of room for thematic development.

The album opens with Midday and the first impression I get is of the similarity to Camel. In particular, Fernando Campos's elegant and highly emotive style of guitar playing has strong echoes of Andy Latimer. The track builds to a climax just beyond the midway point, where it changes and the keyboards become more prominent. I'm then reminded of fellow Brazilian band Quaterna Requiem thanks to the synthesizer and organ runs. All in all then, a very pleasant and melodic track to get us under way.

The Search includes some vocals by guest singer Titi Walter, although the song reaches its halfway point before we get to hear her. Before that we are treated to a delightful Genesis pastiche. Beginning with slightly under two minute's worth of atmospheric keys and acoustic guitar, the song then progresses with a gradual crescendo that features piano arpeggios and drumming that sound like they came straight out of the Tony Banks and Phil Collins repertoires. However bass player Barao's highly distinctive 5-string prevents the track from seeming like a complete Genesis clone. Mind you, once that Steve Hackett-style guitar kicks in... Anyway, Titi's voice is lovely and is perfectly suited to the music. There are a few brief growls and laughs courtesy of keys man Renato Coutinho before a Campos guitar solo rounds things off nicely.

Guest string players and a flautist feature on Burn The Witch, an instrumental that to me sounds a bit like Anthony Phillips. I'm conscious of the fact that I'm drawing a lot of comparisons here. However the guys in Dogma aren't mere copycats, I'm just trying to give a general sense of how they sound given that they're relatively unknown. Anyway, Burn The Witch then finishes with some heavenly choral effects. Think of Enya and you won't be too far away (again with the comparisons!).

The sound of waves lapping and 'mermaid' vocals introduce Hymn. After a couple of minutes of this plus further choral effects, a raw guitar riff bursts in accompanied by military drumming. This song isn't the longest on the album but it's probably the most varied. Gentle guitar and piano lead into the next section, which has strong echoes of another fine Brazilian band, O Terco.

This album might have been a contender for a 5-star rating but for the next song, The Place (Where Are You?), which features guest male-singer Guilheme Bizzotto. The synthesizer/drum intro sounds like Van Halen's Jump, while the main part of the song is firmly in AOR territory. This just sounds so out of keeping with the rest of the material here.

Normal service is resumed on the following track, The Landing. Two or so minutes of sound effects introduce acoustic guitar along with a distant-sounding Benediction. We are then treated to more military style drumming from Daniel Mello and a synthesizer tone that seems to mimic bagpipes. The tempo speeds up with the return of the acoustic guitar and there's a brief electric solo to finish.

The title track is the longest here and it closes the album in grand style. There's no need to describe this one, as the mp3 is available here on ProgArchives so you can listen for yourself. This track actually gives a fairly good indication of the remainder of the album. If you enjoy highly melodic but none-too challenging instrumental music you could certainly do worse than this album. Bearing in mind that I'm a fan of bands from South America, I'm going for 4 stars. It's just a pity about that one song that seems out of place, but an excellent album nonetheless.

Learning about that this band hails from Brazil, I expected inevitable Latin influences, something I respect, but have little interest in. Ah yes, music that booty shaking olive skinned girls find hard not to respond to. Well, this piece would leave them high and dry.

There are absolutely no Latin elements here, but the approach is as pure British as it can get. Largely instrumental work resembling the better moments of Genesis and Camel, it is a very impressive effort. one that I'd be happy to come across more often. Each musician are highly superb on their respective instruments and fill every moment with quality notes and attention, no filler material here.

This album is bordering on 5 star rating - if only they kept playing... Definitely worth checking them out.

Dogma is a pleasant sophomore effort by Dogma, sadly it remained their swan song. The first half of the album is more restrained, exploring lyrical themes and mellower territories. Guitar playing is competent and tasty, keyboard playing is proficient too, but some synth sounds are dated and typical for the prog of the 90's. "Born the witch" is a splendid introverted flute shaped number that is joined by epic mellotron. "Hymn" is the first very symphonic composition with some great instrument interplay. At the end, we have two more developed long epics of which the title track is a clear winner as there are plenty of guitar and keyboard progressive moments While being a competent effort, I failed to find an element that would split the music from hundreds of others and make it stand on its own.

After a Genesis-like and specially Camel-esque album in 1992, this band added some new elements on composition and execution for their 2nd album. One of the tracks, the longest one and which borrows its name to the CD, is very similar to their first work. Considering that the other songs present very different musical proposals from each other, I'll coment one by one. First track is a great begginer, very powerful, with symphonic layers reminding Yes. Proeminent bass and superb variations between guitar and drums. Second track begins much more smoother, with the synth dialoguing with sounds of water. That doesn't stand for long and the acoustic guitar enters, bringing a refined group of melodies. When the piano and drums joins in, marks a constant rythm which announces that something different will arrive. Indeed, after the entrance of the bass and the guitar, this music brings some vocals. I took me time to get used to the theatricalized interpretations of the vocalists. So, this track is IMO the weakest part of the disc. Third track is a very sophisticated and gentle piece of music, with the participation of some guests on the flute, cello, contrabass, viola and violin. The composition gets closer to classical music, but not too much. It starts with a very engaging and relaxing flute, among with some string instruments, I suppose the cello and viola. The piano once again is very inspired. The executions are very unique, because I get the sensation that the pace will get faster sometime, but it doesn't, offering pleasent and memorable tunes. Fourth track starts with what is announced in the booklet as a mermaid vocal, and I agree that Titi Walter found the right spot on this part. Soon a passionate chorus serves as a backround for a solo from Titi. A furious and screaming electric guitar takes place, but in a short period of time, when a simple but captivating piano takes the front line. Even though the composition gets a little confusing on the second half of this song, it's stil a very good music. Track five reminds me of Styx , mainly the vocals and the rhythm section. So, it's kind of a stoner rock, a very good one, and the vocalist makes a good job. Track six, the last one to comment, initiates with some rain noises. You will also hear a door opening, steps. Well, looks like a scene of a story, but it's an instrumental piece, so I can't guess what it is about. A loud synth takes on, looking like the composition will go to a symphonic way. But it doesn't, because it calms down. More sounds like bells and gregorian chant assumes the music. A very passionate acoustic guitar makes some melodic interventions. The bass again finds the exact times to make his contributions. Unfortunately, Barão, the bass player, passed along at the age 35, some months after the end of the touring of this album. In spite of the fact that the other members remained on the music field, and even linked t progressive rock, the band didn't come back with a new formation.

Dogma is a Brazilian band that gained some fame in the 90s with two albums. In 1992 their self-titled debut was released and three years later it was followed by the album discussed here, "Twin Sunrise". Listening to the more progressive sound of this successor you unfortunately have to realize that the world could have received a lot more beauty making it a real gem. Personally "Twin Sunrise" holds an additional special value for me as it was the first CD I bought from the warm-blooded continent.

Of course it is the music itself that has stolen my heart. Apart from the variety the band brings through the use of choirs, strings, sound fragments and various cinematic soundscapes it is primarily the interaction of the four musicians that constantly captivates. In a delightful Camel-like manner guitarist Fernando Campos effortlessly connects with his keyboard-playing companion Renato Coutinho to bring out the best in each other. The album is filled with their delicacies and as the icing on the cake there is the virtuoso bass playing of Barao, who joyfully dances through it all. Drummer Daniel Mello provides appropriate rhythms to the whole without shortchanging himself. The gentlemen's performances are all very impressive and yet it was wise to occasionally seek the help of guest musicians and vocalists.

In the opening track Midday the quartet handles the task on their own. Fiery guitar playing and Rick Wakeman- inspired keyboard color the picture of this instrumental track beautifully. When the organ comes into play everything gets even better and it becomes increasingly clear that the gentlemen of Dogma know perfectly well how to shape their music. Thus the diverse The Search is a beautiful combination of neo-progressive moments. It features a calm acoustic guitar intro, a passage with nimble bass spots, a Tracy Hitchings-like vocal section and a bombastic finale. In the instrumental track Burn The Witch strings, flute and an overwhelming choir take the stage. It may be needless to say that the music here leans towards classical influences although Steve Hackett's tranquil works can also be mentioned as a point of comparison. It is a magnificent song and the following Hymn also abounds in beauty. It begins with the sound of water splashing followed by a mermaid's singing. A choir joins in building up to a melodic piece.

After these four captivating compositions Dogma takes a slightly different approach. The Place is an accessible song with theatrical vocals and the only amusement being the thundering drums towards the end. What truly casts a negative light on the song is the intro which is a direct copy of Van Halen's Jump. Later in the song, the piece resurfaces and it keeps haunting your mind why such talented composers allow themselves this slip-up. Fortunately The Landing and the closing title track Twin Sunrise are once again gems with The Landing actually starting with the sound of a landing Boeing. It's all cool once again.

The music of "Twin Sunrise" has an elusive temperament. Describing it is impossible, far too personal. Go experience it, go experience it.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com