MADNESS

A young and promising Canadian Progressive/Art Rock band,haling from the Quebec territory.Sense were found in 2001 by multi-instrumentalist Stephane Desbiens and singer/guitarist Francois Berube.Along with flutist Sylvain Laberge and drummer Sylvain Berube they completed the original line-up.The next year, and with the help of some guest musicians, the band released its debut ''Madness'',released on Ipso Facto.

Their style contains evident Neo Prog elements with sporadic metal and folk touches but definitely with a strong YES influences,from the vocal lines to the elaborate arrangements.There are plenty of acoustic passages to be found and multi-vocal choirs to make this influence even more evident.While their sound is quite accesible,Sense throw in often passages clearly having a tension towards Folk,Space Rock and Classical Music,reminding at times Aussie progsters UNITOPIA.The tracks follow mainly a slow tempo,split between heavy vocal orientations with strong piano/synth/acoustic work and fair amounts of melody and more intricate musicianship with complex guitars and heavy breaks.Flutes pop out here and there to add a pastoral edge to an overall modern production.This mix of different and unrelated elements seems to work eventually quite good,as the composing skills of the Desbiens/Berube duo is on a efficient level.

''Madness'' is a very nice work,easily accesible to fans of modern Progressive Rock with a variety of influences but always leaning towards the less complicated side of prog.Recommended,especially if you like YES.