ETERMEDIA

Although playing some symphonic music, Framauro has a harder approach. I can even find some influence from this band while listening to Riverside. So, their musical spectre is broad.

One of my fave is "Poznac Siebie". It features the most beautiful symphonic musical passages from this album. Very powerful as well. "Basniowe Alternatywy" is also very pleasant. Gorgeous keyboards; a fantastic and wild guitar break during the second part : absolutely magic. This number is harder than average and takes its distances for the symph style.

"Nakarmieni Masmediami" sounds a bit weak after this. Most of the time, it is acoustic with some marimba in the background. The voice is particularly annoying. Several short but violent breaks will bring some vitality (believe me) in this number. Rather bizarre I must say.

Let's consider the short "Etna" as a transition track and here we go for "Zatrzymac Czas". Nice composition with a very emotional crescendo tempo at the end. "TV Show" is almost hard-rocking : great rhythm and very strong guitar. Again, Framauro are closer from prog-metal than from symph here. But I do not dislike it. A bit unexpected, that's all.

Another highlight of this album is "Prasowe Papugi". Fully symphonic this time, it has lots of flavour of Italian symphonic music : melodic, emotional and passionate. While "Enter" is again almost hard-rocking. Framauro is really hesitating about their musical genre. But it does not really matter since they are really good in both styles. Still, it is rather difficult to categorize them. The closing number is truely subtle and very pleasant. A nice final touch.

This band proposes an interesting music, not brilliant but good and creative enough for you to discover "Etermedia". It is fully in-line with the great Polish tradition of good prog bands. Seven out of ten, but I will downgrade it to three stars.

Framauro isa polish neo prog band that was formed by multi instrumentalist Ryszard Kramarski somewhere in mid '90's. They release only one album in 1998 named Etermedia at Lynx Music label aswell formed by same musician Ryszard Kramarski. Well, this album gave me mix feelings, it is ok good musicaly speaking but in same time sounds very pale in comparation with other names from neo prog zone from Poland. The beggining of the album is almost forggetable, that means the first 4 pieces, not necesarly bad, but totaly lacking in good ideas and great arrangements, the album really beggin to move with fifth piece Etna , an up tempo tune where all musicians did a great job, nice keyboards here. Another worthy tracks are Prasowe papugi, TV shoe and Enter, all has nice guitar parts, good keybords are overall the best from the album. Some symphonic parts are melted with the neo ones giving a good atmosphere on almost every piece, but something is missing to give more then 3 stars. I might say that this album is in a good tradition of neo bands from Poland. All in all a nice album, nothing really imoressive but most of the time enjoyble.

Framauro was the precussor band to Millenium, started in 1996 as a personal project of multi- instrumentalist Ryszard Kramarski.Hailing from Krakow, Poland, Kramarski brought along his cousins singer Stach Kramarski and guitarist Tomasz Pabian to help him with the recording of Framauro's first release.This was entitled ''Etermedia'' and saw the light in 1998.

As expected, Framauro's sound has plenty of similarities with Millenium's early works, while there are also references to the music of COLLAGE and ABRAXAS.However Framauro's style was less developed, less symphonic and more guitar-driven than any of COLLAGE's or ABRAXAS' albums, while the modern approach found in the later Millenium releases is also absent.On the other hand the compositions remain fairly interesting within the 90's Polish Prog sound with changes between crunchy passages and more emotional guitar solos.Additionally there are some great lyrical moments to be found in ''Etermedia'' with a deep intensity along with short piano interludes and very atmospheric, laid-back synthesizers.Kramarski's talent in composition can be also traced in the nice symphonic/orchestral themes contained in a few tracks as well as in the careful acoustic breaks here and there.

Shortly after the release of ''Etermedia'' Kramarski, encouraged by his friends, upgraded this project to a full-time band.Along with Tomasz Pabian he collaborated with drummer Tomasz Paśko, bassist Piotr Mazurkiewicz and singer Lukasz GaLęziowski to form a regular group, while during the recordings of the new album he changed the name of the group to Millenium.

''Etermedia'' contains all the great elements, characterizing the unique sound of Polish Neo/Symphonic Progressive Rock, and the album leaves a positive taste at the end, despite having a more raw sound compared to the Polish scene's legendary names.Recommended.