Second Sound (druckfarbenband, 2014)
Second Sound is the second release by an impressive Canadian progressive rock band called Druckfarben. This is one of the albums that automatically captures your attention and requires additional listening to experience all the exquisite nuances.
Druckfarben have a lot going for them: outstanding musicianship, some of the best vocals in the current scene and state of the art symphonic progressive rock. “This is a natural progression from our first album,” says composer and multi-instrumentalist Ed Bernard, “but also introduces musical elements that might be surprising to those who know our music so far.”
You’ll find echoes of the usual progressive music suspects such as Yes, Genesis, Kansas, Canadian band FM, and Gentle Giant. However, you can also detect influences from non-Anglo Saxon acts such as PFM and Magma-style throbbing bass.
Ed Bernard is a sensational multi-instrumentalist who plays guitars, electric violin and a wide range of string instruments. On the guitar, he delivers power, multiplicity and admirable skill. He is equally fabulous on the electric violin, with stellar performances on various tracks.
Second Sound contains memorable songs and a closing 19-minute epic titled “Second Sound.” The lineup on the album includes Ed Bernard on guitars, vocals, violins, violas, mandolins, banjo, dobro; Peter Murray on bass, vocals; William Hare on piano, organ, synthesizers; Troy Feener on drums; and Phil Naro on vocals, acoustic guitars.
Druckfarben was founded in 2008. Druckfarben is a German word that means “colored ink used for printing on textiles or other media.” In the mid-1980s, young Ed and Troy had no idea what the word meant when they discovered it stenciled on enigmatic black barrels in their rehearsal studio. Several years later it reappeared as the name of the band.
All five members of Druckfarben grew up with a passion for classic progressive rock music, including Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Rush, King Crimson and Kansas. The band played its first show on March 1, 2008 in Port Credit, Ontario. Their self-titled debut Druckfarben was released in October 2011, followed by a live DVD titled Artifact in 2013.
Second Sound is a superb example of first-rate self-penned progressive rock with dazzling instrumental and vocal interplay, reflective songs and epic pieces.
Buy Second Sound