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From.uz - Audio Diplomacy CD (album) cover

AUDIO DIPLOMACY

From.uz

 

Eclectic Prog

3.59 | 68 ratings

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apps79
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars 3.5 stars actually...

To listen to a prog band coming from Uzbekistan is not really a common situation.FROMUZ were found in the capital of Uzbekistan,Tashkent in 2004 by guitarist Vitaly Popellof and bassist Andrew Mara Novik,joined by ex-X Religion keyboardist Albert Khalmurzaev and drummer Vladimir Badirov,known by his ''Vladimir Badirov Project''.Surprisingly the first release of the band was the 2005 DVD ''Playing the imitation'' when the band called themselves ''The Fromuz'',meaning ''from Uzbekistan''.Signed by 10T Records they shortened their name to FROMUZ and release a live recording in 2007,entitled ''Audio diplomacy'',supported a DVD version of the same performance at the Youth Theater of Uzbekistan in 2005 before no more than 300 people.

For fans of complex instrumental rock this is absolutely a must-have.''Audio diplomacy'' is filled with tons of twists,breaks and time signatures.The four musicians work very well together,leaving space to each other for mind-blowing virtuosic solos,but they collaborate excellent as well at the furious grooves and the complex interplays.The overall sound falls into the progressive/fusion category in the vein of LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT,7 FOR 4 or DEREK SHERINIAN,that means a rather heavy,often metal-like style of playing wrapped under a virtuosic performance,close at times to jazz/fusion music.Unfortunately 75 minutes of really complex music are too much,so FROMUZ made something about it.Among all these complicated themes there are some catchy grooves,as well as relaxed passages with an almost spacey atmosphere or even a modern version of some ethnic tunes fronted by keyboards,so things work better this way.

Regarding the DVD edition (and considering its very good quality indeed),this one features two more tracks (in the same vein) than the CD tracklist and personally I find it to works better,for no other reason than this kind of music is better to be picturized compared to a simple listening.

No doubt these guys are masters of their instruments and ''Audio diplomacy'' stands well next to the former legends of this kind of progressive music.Recommended to fans of rich and complicated instrumental music with a heavier,than usual, edge.

apps79 | 3/5 |

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