HUNTING THE FOX

Nice Progressive/Art Rock band from Germany, formed in 1994 and named after talented female keyboardist Ines Fuchs.Next to her we find her husband, guitarist Hansi Fuchs along with an all-star session line-up from the Prog Rock scene: Former Asgard members Chicco Grosso (vocals), Chris Bianchi d'Espinosa (bass/guitars) and Massimo Michieletto (guitars), ex-Lanvall musicians Ulbi Ulbricht (bass) and Thomas Schaufler (drums), German legends Anyone's Daughter's singer Harald Bareth, Bel Air's guitarist Klaus Meyer and another vocalist, Baggi Buchmann.The debut CD ''Hunting the fox'' from 1994 was released on WMMS/Music Is Intelligence.

This is very good, mainly mainstream-Prog with excellent vocal performances, satisfying compositions and some trully nice keyboard work by Ines Fuchs.All tracks have simple structures with catchy choruses, however there is plenty of instrumental madness in here to satisfy the prog listener, coming out of Ines' flashy synths, which sound both bombastic and melodic, recalling the early work of MARK KELLY with MARILLION.The overall approach reminds bands or projects like LANDMARQ, CASINO or SHADOWLAND.Very strong lyrical performances by a group of gifted vocalists blended with easy-going Neo/Symphonic Prog Rock arrangements, often with an evident Hard Rock touch.A few tracks are instrumental with both acoustic and electric passages, quite virtuosic and cinematic still very melodic.With so many guitarists on board the listener will have the chance to listen to some very good riffing and soloing in ''Hunting the fox'', however it is Ines' work on synths, which really shines in this album.

Great Neo Progressive Rock with a heavy amount of keyboard instrumentals and very tight compositions.A must-have for fans of the style and a decent buy for anyone, who searches for a break full of accesible but well-crafted Progressive Rock.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.