FREQUENCY DRIFT- Personal Effects (Part 1) (2008) A new band from Bayreuth/Germany, founded at the end of 2006, with neo progressive and art rock leanings. The debut concept album 'Personal Effects (Part 1)' is inspired by movies like 'Blade Runner', 'Lost' and 'Ghost in the shell' telling the story about River and Romance, two girls living in 2046. The song titles are containing time stamps from a one night period. Lyrics are in English and the band didn't include them into the booklet deliberately to enforce a special concentration on the visual component. They worked together with a graphic designer for that and the CD booklet is full of black-and-white pictures representing a dark atmospheric mood depending on the story. When relying on Katja Hübner's excellent voice (near to MAGENTA's Christina) the nine songs with a total length of 60 minutes are turned out dreamy melancholic - cinematic as the band implies. The instrumental parts are blending some tricky effects with symphonic and heavier rocking elements pushed by a varied keyboard/guitar work and a solid rhythm section. FREQUENCY DRIFT has worked out a quite unique - cinematic prog called - profile with this debut which is expandable anyhow - comparable with bands like Sylvan, Poor Genetic Material and Magenta for a clue in the widest sense. The second part is announced for next year and in the meanwhile live gigs are planned for presenting their music to a wider audience. Personal Effects (Part 1) 2008 - MUSEA Records MP 3057   WEBSITE | MYSPACE

ONZA - Paradigma (2007) Very good album from the Andalusian band ONZA which is headed by guitarist Jaime Padilla for 18 years. Originally being closer to Jazz Rock/Fusion they deliver a neo progressive style during the last years - sometimes around the sound of JADIS, RPWL and ELOY. It took already four years to get a new sign of life from the band but finally I can say the result is worth it. Eight matured tracks were offered including native vocals, beautiful melodies, symphonic keyboards and rocking guitars. A powerful rhythm section is the fundament for the diversified composed songs. Paradigma deserves it to be the title song without a doubt and ranks among the best. Devided in two parts it all starts with acoustic guitar but soon changes to a groovy rocking section with interesting somewhat slicing keys later fading into the second floydy gliding part with a nice saxophone solo - oh yeah - this is excellent song writing! The long track El Alquimista also comes up as an important album component - more symphonic oriented with a nice flow and some jam moments. No loss at all as for the summary and there is no need to bring up the other songs - they are all on a high level anyhow. I like this album very much. 'Paradigma' can keep up with other significant genre albums without any problem and is not only dedicated to fans of neo and symphonic prog.   WEBSITE | MYSPACE