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SECOND SOUND

Druckfarben

Symphonic Prog


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Druckfarben Second Sound album cover
3.92 | 142 ratings | 6 reviews | 23% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2014

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. An Answer Dreaming (6:59)
2. In Disbelief (3:29)
3. Dandelion (5:06)
4. Liberated Dream (4:25)
5. Long Walk Down (5:02)
6. Surrounds Me (7:22)
7. Another Day (5:21)
8. Second Sound (18:49)

Total Time 56:33

Line-up / Musicians

- Phil Naro / vocals, acoustic guitar
- Ed Bernard / guitars, violin, viola, mandolin, banjo, dobro, vocals, producer
- William Hare / piano, organ, synths
- Peter Murray / bass, vocals
- Troy Feener / drums, percussion

Releases information

Artwork: Tom Forsythe

CD Druckfarben ‎- DR002 (2014, Canada)

Digital album

Thanks to mbzr48 for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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DRUCKFARBEN Second Sound ratings distribution


3.92
(142 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(23%)
23%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(45%)
45%
Good, but non-essential (25%)
25%
Collectors/fans only (5%)
5%
Poor. Only for completionists (2%)
2%

DRUCKFARBEN Second Sound reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Well-produced, fresh and original symphonic prog from Canada - that's what Druckfarben promise and that's what you get with them. With their sound not beholden to any particular past precedent (though at points I am put in mind of the likes of Isildur's Bane, or the more symphonic prog-influenced moments of Birds and Buildings), they can't be accused of being any sort of clone band - instead, you have brisk, adept keyboard work from keyboardist Will Hare which sets a brisk pace for the rest of the band to follow. Establishing themselves as one of the better Bandcamp outfits in a prog vein, Druckfarben's Second Sound should make them one to watch in the future.
Review by Aussie-Byrd-Brother
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars "The new Yes album is too soft!". "Wobbler/Glass Hammer now sound like a Yes clone!". If these are comments you're sick of reading, then perhaps you should be investigating a band that takes some key Yes ingredients and crafts them to their own distinctive style! Canada's Druckfarben start off like a mix of all the Yes albums since 90125 thrown in a blender, a pinch of Spock's Beard modern symphonic approach with a much punchier, gutsier sound, a focus on strong melodic vocal driven compositions and tightly implemented instrumental passages expertly grafted to the winning melodies. Lead vocalist Phil Naro comes across like Jon Anderson if he were forceful and had a bit more hair on his chest, he has a charismatic and distinctive personality on disc, and he's ably backed up by a top-notch group of musicians. With an assortment of tunes ranging from three to seven minutes and ending with an 18 minute epic (of course!), Druckfarben have delivered a terrific hard rocking collection that will hopefully and deservedly increase their status in the modern prog community based on their superb efforts here.

`An Answer Dreaming's sprightly piano, murmuring bass and snappy drumming opens the disc, soon joined by twinkling Hammond organ and a bit of guitar crunch by way of a catchy chorus. Short pop/rocker `In Disbelief' is joyously synth driven, with plenty of tasty Moog runs and just the lightest of Mellotron touches from William Hare. Peter Murray's slab-like bass punishes all in its path on the heavy chugger `Dandelion', some searing viola from Ed Bernard and oppressive Mellotron choirs rising from the background are also a highlight. Listen out for some relentless metallic harshness along with lines of the Genesis track `Keep It Dark' too, very nice! `Liberated Dream' brings some surprisingly groovy dirty wah-wah guitar fuelled funk, with racing jazz/fusion guitar licks through a whole bunch of twisting instrumental melodies played impossibly fast. The scorching Hammond wouldn't sound out of place on a Spock's Beard album, and Peter's knockout bass in the final minute virtually erupts!

Nothing will prepare you for the exquisite vocal harmonies of `Long Walk Down'. Starting as a ballad based around grand piano and Phil's warm raspy voice, one by one the different band members introduce their own voices and they all seamlessly weave together. The piece takes on a lush dreaminess with climbing Mellotron and violin dancing together in a stirring symphonic finale. Those blissful group vocals truly take flight and glide throughout smooth rocker `Surrounds Me' as well, which could have easily appeared on the Yes album `Union', with a catchy memorable chorus, bristling Mellotron, snarling electric guitar runs and Troy Feener's urgent drumming. The group vocal arrangements get even more ambitious, complex and luscious on the banjo-driven `Another Day', with a sighing, almost gothic quality before racing through a nimble collection of instrumental passages. The closing 18 minute title track is loaded with glistening piano, Kansas- like commanding violin, more spirited banjo, lively acoustic guitar, dizzying synths and menacing Mellotrons that race through a collection of grand symphonic themes. It's a very powerful extended piece with seamless transitions between the numerous sections, it's only slightly let down by lack of a big finale.

Listeners wanting an album with reliable influences without being a total rip-off and devoid of originality should investigate `Second Sound' immediately. If you liked the last few Spock's Beard, Glass Hammer and Big Big Train albums, this does everything they do but even better, and with more muscle and dynamism. It sure as heck leaves the recent album from symphonic kings Transatlantic `Kaleidoscope' for dead! Those who prize inspired instrumental skills carefully applied to strong song writing won't find a finer modern band than Druckfarben, and despite only being on their second studio album, this talented Canadian band are already climbing the ladder, developing their own sound and delivering the prog goods at an enviable level. There's not many modern symphonic style albums that come even close to this real winner, and `Second Sound' is a triumph for melodic focused prog in 2014. One of the best prog albums of 2014? Maybe, just maybe...

Four stars.

Review by FragileKings
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars "Second Sound" is the second album by Canadian progressive rock group Druckfarben and features American-born Phil Naro on vocals. It's because of Naro, whom I first heard on Corvus Stone albums and later with progressive metal band Unified Past, that I decided to try out this album.

It's indeed a wonderful collection of rock with heavier moments all with so many of the hallmarks of the progressive rock genre. In many ways, it's easy to imagine a harder rocking modern version of Yes with Naro's vocals often coming across as a more metal counterpart to Jon Anderson. Naro's career has seen him spend time with the harder and heavier side of rock, and I recently discovered that once sang in the Canadian hard rock act Coney Hatch after replacing no one other than a young Kevin (James) LaBrie in the mid-eighties. Please note the band made no recordings with either vocalist.

I'd like to say here that I've recently purchased a number of prog albums released in the last few years and I also read an interview with The Enid's Robert John Godfrey where he claimed modern prog bands just mimic classic prog of the past without any concept of what it really means to be prog. Put those two together and I find myself wondering why some of my new albums should be great. But listening to "Second Sound" I find the answer: because the music is fun, exciting, and well-composed and performed. The choice of guitar sounds and styles, the keyboards, the piano, the tricky rhythms, the vocals both lead (there is a second lead vocalist at times which I'll assume is Ed Bernard) and backing, the additional violin, and just the lively and clever music overall make this an album fun to listen to. It might puzzle my wife but I think she knows that I have stuff like this in my collection (she still doesn't know about the weirder stuff!).

Which brings me to an observation about this album's music: this is not a rock album with some prog songs and some more mainstream; this is a prog album from start to finish. What's that supposed to mean? I have a lot of albums that are closer to crossover prog or even mainstream rock that include progressive parts as colour like one might add a violin or flute to an otherwise guitar and keyboard album. Druckfarben have stuck very well to the rules of prog creating modern music with modern sounds and not blatantly paying tribute to anyone in particular (though there is a nod to Rush in "Surrounds Me" and some parts that are easy to compare to Yes) all the while paying attention to non-standard rhythms and complex and difficult playing while still adding beautiful melodies in some tracks. It doesn't come off like a prog exercise. The songs are impressive and easy to get into for someone with appreciation for music that goes beyond mainstream.

The album just clears 56 minutes which makes it a reasonable listen without toilet breaks. Most of the songs are between four and six minutes but still offer exciting music with surprises. It's sometimes seems like the songs should be longer. The title track is the long runner at 18:49 and basically continues with what the album has already brought to the (turn)table though more pleasant surprises crop up, such as the violin and fiddling near the beginning, or the banjo around 10:30.

While the song "Second Sound" has some great music, Druckfarben did not spend all their energy on the epic number. You'll find great songs across the whole disc!

Latest members reviews

5 stars One of those excellent bands that fall through the mazes. This band blends the musical power of Yes, Saga, Spock's Beard, It Bites and UK and creates an energetic and almost unique result. There's very much going on. Tempochanges, synth and guitarsolo's abound. A lot of the instrumental pass ... (read more)

Report this review (#1612744) | Posted by Kingsnake | Tuesday, September 20, 2016 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Finally it's time for me to review a new symphonic record. Over all I don't think 2014 has got as many releases of prog as 2013 which was an amazing year. Druckfarben is the name of the band for today and it's a band from the land of the Canadians. "Second Sound" is their second release after a ... (read more)

Report this review (#1282827) | Posted by DrömmarenAdrian | Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | Review Permanlink

5 stars "No... not Drunk & Fartin'!' A friend asked what I was listening to this week. I said Druckfarben, to which he replied, "Drunk & Fartin'? That's a fun name!" Not the best of band names this week, this reviewer explored both Pervy Perkins release and Canadian band, Druckfarben's latest offeri ... (read more)

Report this review (#1195378) | Posted by buddyblueyes | Wednesday, June 18, 2014 | Review Permanlink

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