RESISTOR

As is usual with Resistor, the music roams on the edge of what we call here Heavy & Crossover Prog, it has heavier moments, but also a lot of jamming like structures (after all, as mentioned in "Rise", their second album, they are jam band in heart), spiced by these little twists, like changing of tempo, occasionally change of signature and other funny things.

It's charming music, even quite a lot similar to their following CD (more like otherwise, Rise is similar to Resistor) with the best is also the longest track, Restless Angel reminds a little bit Spirit of Open Sky. Not as Prog as their 2010 album, but similarly enjoyable, only not in the same way.

4(-), I suppose.

After a long and pretty prolific career as a solo artist, Steve Unruh decided to put together also a normal band around mid-00's.He gathered bassist Rob Winslow, drummer Barry Farrands and guitarist Fran Turner and so Resistor came in life.Unruh handles all lead vocals along with guitars, flutes and violins and in 2008 the band debuted with a self-released self-titled album.

Resistor play somekind of contemporary guitar-based Prog/Psych/Art Rock with many references to Unruh's solo works, even sounding like an Alternative Rock act at moments, but also taking huge inspirations from the 70's.The opening tracks are very good indeed, a mix of modern Prog Rock with light psychedelic influences with a bit of alternative elements, based on crunchy guitars, strong grooves and expressive vocals with a fair amount of breaks and a good dose of more emotional performances, while ''Jethro fran'', obvioulsy dedicated to JETHRO TULL, features the excellent flute interventions of Unruh.The middle part of the album is very average and less interesting, containing pieces with influences from Blues, Jazz and Classic Rock in a very inconsistent mix, which has nothing to do with the impressive openers.The two closing tracks though are on par with the good quality of the nice opening cuts.''Moondog'' is very decent instrumental Heavy Prog with lots and impressive guitar moves by Unruh and great changing climates, while ''Waiting to Believe'' is a good modern Art Rock piece with distorted psychedelic guitars, a lovely smooth atmosphere and Unruh's more emotional performance on vocals, akin to the music of PORCUPINE TREE.

Wish the album could have kept the great quality of the opening and closing tracks.Still ''Resistor'' comfortably shows the direction Prog Rock moved during the millenium with some nice, both atmospheric and energetic delivery.Recommended.