EL BUFO DE LA CORT

Dr. No is an obscure band from Spain from this decade. They release only one album in 2003 named El bufo de la cort (The jester of the court) at small dutch label Xymphonia records. The band was formed by Enric Pascual who is the main composer of the pieces, lyricist, he playes here at almost all instruments, keyboards, drums, and handle vocals aswell, but has a musical friend Conrad Dube who help him on some parts with bass lines and some backing vocals. The album is to me more towards symphonic prog with traces of neo, with beautiful and lush keybords arrangements and great guitar parts. The album sounds very melodic with only here and there a touch of neo prog, specially the keys and guitars are in this field. Anyway a pleasent album sung is distinct catalan language, very emotional and very mellow in places. The atmosphere of the album is ok, sometimes too naive, usual to my ears combinations, not bad of course, but to vague in contrast with other albums from that period. The voice of Pascual is ok, nothing realy impressive , but good, goes with the music hand in hand. The best pieces are Canco d'esperanca (Song of hope) with excellent keybords arrangements who sounds very happy, very positive, joyfull moments, a mellow pieces where Enric Pascual truly shines No se el teu nom (I don't know your name), brilliant piece and the highlight from here, nice smooth guitar interplay with great keyboard atmosphere, in the background but very effectiv, and the title track a nearly 11 min of symphonic prog, with spacey guitar play not far from Camel and even some Marillion traces are to be found here, good piece. So, over all a good album, a little naive and very shy here and there, but with plesent and enjoyble moments, 3 stars. The cover art remind me of early Marilion, but the music seems to me more close to Eris Pluvia or Camel and only vague resemblence with Marillion.