FORMULA

Faint Signal originally came together when a post on Craigslist asked if prog rock was dead in Cincinnati. As a result, Henri Eisenbaum (guitars, keyboards, vocals, percussion) and Randy Campbell (vocals, basses, pedals, keyboards) started working together and in 2014 they released their self-titled debut. I do not know why it took so long for the second album to come out, but in 2018 'Formula' was finally released. This involved nine musicians and five recording studios, and like many these days was supported by a crowdfunding campaign. As a way of paying forward the band set aside a portion of all proceeds from this release to purchase for instruments for school children and the school music programs. I have never known any music program get the funding they need, as arts seem to be the first things cut in budget rounds, so this is something which definitely strikes a chord with me.

This is polished prog which has a great deal in common with the Nineties American neo prog scene. When they want to turn up the guitars they do so with gusto, and they immediately reminded me of the lost-lost (and much-missed) Il'vatar, with some Saga, plenty of Pink Floyd, plus The Flower Kings and post-Neal Spock's Beard. The songs are well structured, with good vocals, and there is a quirkiness throughout the album, starting with the album artwork itself where we see band member's heads in jars. I would have preferred more 'real' drums on the album, but this is a long- standing gripe of mine and actually the sequenced drums here are not nearly as bad as they could be, I'd just rather have a human at the back as the music to me always seems far more honest and direct. Most songs are relatively concise, there is no room here for the guys to go on extended solos but instead they concentrate on the job at hand, which makes the album very immediate indeed.

I did see a review which likened these guys to Gandalf's Fist, and although I do not necessarily agree with it, I can understand where it is coming from as there is a similar approach in some areas. The use of additional musicians just for certain songs really does add to the interest, and the result is something which is incredibly polished and enjoyable from the very first hearing and that only grows the more time it is played. Great songs, superb vocals, I can only imagine there was a dearth of progressive bands in the area when Henri and Randy first came together given how that transpired, and hope they have inspired many more in their area to get out there as this is a really enjoyable album. Refined, relaxing, I can listen to this all day. This album may have been out for two years, but with no reviews yet on Prog Archives it has been missed by many, and that certainly needs correcting. For all fans of well-structured commercial progressive rock which is a delight.

FAINT SIGNAL is a group of 2 multi-instrumentalists from Cincinnati formed in 2011, having met by post to promote PROG in their country; texts on political, social issues for reflection; the music is provided with twirling keyboards, illuminated guitars, with reminiscences drawn from here and there, from MARILLION, PINK FLOYD, GENESIS even RUSH and from LIFESIGNS, TRANSATLANTIC, PORCUPINE TREE, MUSE or SOUND OF CONTACT. A sound showing the experience gained and a fresh sound. "5000 Years" on the keyboard title, female vocals from Katja, one of the two sung, piano which brings up an airy sax solo with SUPERTRAMP notes. "Led by the Moon" for the most progressive piece, mysterious intro, easy to incorporate tune; mid-air and symphonic break with a hint of spleen, all magnified by bass, drums and synth; its apart on GENESIS and KING CRIMSON. Bells introduce "Groomed for Success pt.1 Panacea, pt.2 Formula and pt.3 Golden Timepiece" for a twelve-minute trilogy, rhythmic electro start, synthetic percussions and keyboards, melodic and fruity guitar solo; Wallian atmosphere with sound effects and electro, choppy and redundant voice, sublime solo; end with an even more Floydian drift, a plaintive then lamenting violin à la Waters and soaring solo; my girlfriend typed just by telling me about PINK FLOYD on this triptych. "Terra Incognito" for the instrumental where RUSH and GENESIS 2nd version can be cited; very fat, symphonic, ambient synth with the flute in the middle, final to the contemplative synth.

"Linear Skies" and an intro à la YES then it calms down, a little GENESIS, Katja's voice and we go on MOSTLY AUTUMN with a rhythmic tune; a dithyrambic solo on the keyboard will capsize you and ask you why you missed it; sublime, explosive title. "Surface Tension" for an interlude where Kevin comes to give the baton and helps the keyboard to give a nervous and gripping rhythm; prog piece! "Mixed Signals" for the hit radio track, it only looks like FAINT SIGNAL, good go a little SAGA for those keyboard notes that come out everywhere, SPOCK'S BEARD and GANDALF'S FIST, good the synth variation is divine . "Robed in Tradition" for a targeted Floydien ersatz on acoustic guitar, "Animals" and "The Wall" in echo; break with the ersatz voice in Churchill, a drawer dripping with memories and a delightful solo for the second hit of the album. It continues on "U.A.V. »Sung title which brings me back to a supercharged MINIMUM VITAL, to an 80's YES and an ELP oozing with guitars, go for an overboosted ASIA too, in short heavy, that's it I hear the voice of NASA or the US Air Force which brings me to "Live it Now" symphonic title where the keyboards take the front, the piano riff seeming to launch its notes here and there, the final throbbing. "Zero to 55" for the symphonic finale, jovial film music tune, bucolic, classical ballad; a little GENESIS for the keyboard, the flute, a powerful riff; at 4 minutes, you risk melting, the flute, the violin get to the heart; It's bombastic in a good way, it's aerial, it's sublime. FAINT SIGNAL released a musical bombshell in 2018, modern and almost commercial progressive rock, to the limit. A fresh, spinning OMNI album to which a real drummer would have magnified the listening; in short, a pearl anyway.