SUB ROSA

I don´t know why they are labeled as a crossover band when the eclectic prog tag would be much more fitting. Because eclectic they surely are! There is a lot of influences in their music: early Pink Floyd (the strongest and most recognizable), Van Der Graaf Generator, Marillion, Renaissance, Eloy plus jazzy passages, a funky guitar here and there, krautrock, minimalistic keys and so on. As odd as this mix may sound, it works. In fact they have their own personality already, which is why I was so drawn to their work.

As usual with good prog CDs, It took a few spins to fully enjoy this record. However, some parts are full of pure beauty from the very first time I heard them. There is a 70´s ´flavour´ all over the record. I specially liked the alternating male and female vocals (even if their heavy accent may annoy some people) both of whom are very well handled, something often forgotten in this style. The voices here are as good as the tremendous instrumental work. I loved the retro-like Hammond organ sounds, the vintage sounding synth solos and the very well done guitar lines (mostly influenced by Latimer/Gilmour, but ultimately quite varied). Interesting thing: they have a girl drummer, Barbara Laranjeira, something quite unusual in prog (and she does a good job, with a style reminiscent of Floyd´s Nick Mason). There is not a single filler in the whole CD. I always listen to it from start to finish, even though I still personally think the first track was not the best choice for the opener. Production is very good overall (the bass is a tad too loud sometimes, though). The booklet with the technical data and lyrics is also very nice.

Highlights? Too many to mention. Just listen and pick up yours. There is a lot of little gems hidden here. The Gigsaw sounds both familiar and new, which is the base of their charm.

Conclusion: a stunning debut. The ecletic mixture and the sometimes bare, minimalistic approach of some tunes may take a little time to be fully appreciated, but the album has something most new releases lack: as varied as it is, it has a unifying feeling that gives it a coherent whole. Sure, it is not perfect and there are obvious rough edges to work out on the future. Still, it is a remakable first for an unknown act. Very promising, no doubt.

Rating: 4,5 stars. Highly recommended!