LIVE V KLUBE ZA ZRKADLOM

I never saw Fermata playing live, and it was really interesting for me to listen this, their first ever live album. Another moment was important as well - even if in almost the same line-up as 30 years ago, the music was played and recorded in late 00', or let say three decades after their golden moments.

In mid-70-s Fermata was known in Eastern Europe as leading symphonic progressive/jazz fusion band. What do we have now there, on their newest release ?

Still great melodies, excellent musicianship, and - what is very important - no even small evidence they are tired or bored. Great instrumental music, full of energy and melodies. But - there (as often) is a little but ...

Excellent concert, recorded on this album, is great example of instrumental rock music. Good arrangements support great heavy guitar, which fills almost all the space of sound. All musicians are extremely competent, recording sound is great, and not too often you will remember this is live recording. Still plenty of keyboards, many moments of symphonic prog. But main all album's atmosphere is still very influenced by axe-heroes works ( think - Steve Vai or Joe Satriani).

Happily, differently from heavy guitar instrumental albums, there are enough space for all other instruments, and compositions have their melodies , not just a formal reason for guitar technique demonstration.

In whole - really good instrumental symphonic prog album ,full of heavy guitar sound and few jazzy moments. Could be really recommended for lovers of melodic well arranged symphonic instrumental rock as well as for fans of guitar-based instrumental rock. Nothing to offer for fusion fans though.

My rating - 3,5, rounded to 4.

Ah well, just how do I put it? This is no "garage band", rather the opposite - and therein lies the disappointment. Highly skilled musicians just taking it too easy, to the point where boredom with this "underinspired" performance sets in early in the piece, commanding intermittent attention only.

The band's Jazz-Rock direction of earlier years is largely retired by this point, only to surface briefly - as if by accident. No, this is closer to doing Joe Satriani filler material and with that I have just about said all I felt compelled to share here.

What's been performed here is not bad at all and done rather well, except that it fails to excite as an end result. This is not bad work at all, just not good enough to qualify for another spin.

Rating it as 3 stars hurts, as this is not as weak as numerous 3 rated works (Good, but non- essential), but the reality is that this live performance fits that description. 3.5 and rounded down.