DRAMA

The modern sound and some sensation of "I 'd listened to it before" are -maybe- negative points, but compositions are really enjoyable and melodies very nice.

All instrumental, the sound is mostly symphonic with ethnic touches sometimes. There aren't amazing moments nor surprises, but it's a good album after all.

Reaching twenty years of career,DRAMA still remain an underground name of the modern symphonic rock scene.Found in 1990 in Rouen and led by charismatic guitarist Eric Azhar,they were discovered by Musea Records and released their self-titled debut in mid-90's.

The band had no vocalist,so ''Drama'' was an all instrumental effort based on the majestic combination between Azhar's guitars and Richard Langlois' modern keys.Unforunately the album suffers from a rather mediocre production,but the good thing is that most of the tracks are more than interesting with nice orchestrations and captivating melodies.Musically I can place the band in the neo/symponic category with hints of CAMEL, IQ and JADIS dominating the album,as Azhar's guitar work alternates between distorted melodic passages and complex breaks.However the total abscence of vocals,the extended instrumental parts and the (often) grandiose approach of Langlois' floating synths makes DRAMA more symphonic-sounding than any of the above bands.The use of vibes and percussion by Jean-Marc Leclerc helps the band adding a slightly-detected ethnic feeling in some of the tracks,accompanied by a couple of catchy guitar melodies.

Overall the album is a real winner, regarding good instrumental progressive rock, with plenty of memorable material, dreamy soundscapes and deep atmospheres.Strongly recommended, especially to fans of intricate melodic prog and musically comparable to other instrumental melodic prog bands like TEMPUS FUGIT, DOGMA and CHANCE.

Due to the small number of quotations (only 8) and only 2 reviews, I have obligation of agreeing with the initial words of the review written by The PROG REVIEWER - psarros, that says "DRAMA still remain an underground name of the modern symphonic rock scene", increasing that I find pitiful that this French band (especially, in this first studio disk) it is so unknown of the community of the progressive rock fans ! Although I have to recognize, that certain moments of the disk provoke a sensation of the type " I,ve already heard something similar to that! ", the work is brilliant and full of memorable moments and extremely captivating melodies (just as the initial melody of the guitar in the track 2 "Jettatura" and the magistral opening of the track 3 "Vertigo" in the Rick Wakeman's style keyboards), with themes full of energy and vibration and unexpected breaks, and still the musical landscape of the tracks 5 & 6 "África I & II, that send us to world music, the "Flamenco" music style of the track 7 "Jacaranda" and the final track "Excalibur" with a bass guitar in the Chris Squire's style. And in spite of such rich and intricate melodies , it is a work that gets to please to the listener soon in the first audition. My rate is 5 stars!!!