DRUCKFARBEN

Here we have the debut from a relatively new Canadian band (first gig March 2008) - DRUCKFARBEN is a German expression by the way, and is the equivalent for printing ink. This quintet consists of professional musicians from the local Toronto scene who found together in order to exercise their love for progressive rock in general. They have put a collection of songs together which is, besides others, evidently oriented at YES and SAGA. Phil Naro's voice is great and gets blatantly close to Jon Anderson here and there, Ed Bernard is influenced by Steve Howe, there's no mistaking. Even so - they surely have more to offer than a simple copy-cat combo.

So it all starts with some dramatic opulent organ input - as for that the song title ELPO probably makes sense, however it continues fusion coloured surprisingly where the band immediately sets the bar very high. Influenza comes very energetic and catchy, freely adapted from the YES era with Trevor Rabin aboard, I would say. The tricky Smaller Wooden Frog leaves me puzzled every time when listening - yes, they invoke a SAGA feel here, but overall this composition is way more complex. Starting with Walk Away the songs are more AOR oriented then. Where Sons Of Anakim raises some crimson-esque sentiment the ballad Nonchalant closes with nice folk impressions, Ed Barnard contributes violin and mandolin here.

While obviously oriented at some paragons and drifting into AOR territories over the course this DRUCKFARBEN debut is lacking of originality a bit. Nonetheless it's a really enjoyable one, technically flawless, provided with excellent melodies, catchy moments, variety and joy of playing definitely - thus basically of interest for fans of those aforementioned bands - 3.5 stars.