NEANDER VARIATIONS

Fugato Orchestra started in 1999 in Budapest, Hungary, as a high school live project by the (then) 17 years old composer Balazs Alpar.This gave the opportunity to young Classical-educated musicians to combine their studies on music with a drum/bass/guitar/keyboards back up group.The growing fame of this unique ensemble was seemingly leading to somewhere and Alpar decided to keep it going.He himself performs on violin and keyboards and is supported by more than 10 musicians on strings and bass instruments along with a bassist, a guitarist and three drummers/percussionists.Their first work ''Neander Variations'' was released in 2004 on Periferic Records.

Easily compared to classic acts such as compatriots AFTER CRYING or British masters of the sound THE ENID, Fugato Orchestra combined the Classical harmonies with the rock aesthetics in a work of pure symphonicism with extended brass and string sections.The primary roles of course are given to instrumernts like piano, violins, cellos, flutes or trumpets and there is a discreet support by a smooth rhythm section and to a lesser extent guitars.The musicianship is overall quite calm, full of delicate melodies and passages with some more bombastic moments thrown in.The atmosphere has often a strong cinematic feeling with an emphasis on grandiose interludes and soundscapes.The more-piano based structures have also a slight jazzy approach, an example of Alpar's versatile talent as a composer.The lack of a stronger rock content propably will push back the more traditional prog listener, but again the nice mix of synths, bass, drums and a few more modern sounds with the unique sound of a small Classical orchestra offers series of eerie and elegant instrumental textures with a very nice approach.

No question, anyone into more symphonic listenings or even fans of pure Classical music should listen to ''Neander Variations''.But I recommended the rest of prog audience to spend some time listening to this album, there is something for everyone to like in here.Warmly recommended.