Profuna Ocean – Continuation
Found another great, up and coming band of the future. Profuna Ocean is an alternative rock band from the Netherlands, founded in 2008. The band is made up of members: Raoul Potters, on vocals and guitars; René Visser, on keyboards and synthesizers; Arjan Visser, on bass guitar; and Fred den Hartog, on drums.
Their new EP is called Continuation, and it was released on September 27, 2020. The band released their first album in 2009, Watching the Closing Sky. In 2013 Profuna Ocean won the award for “Best Progressive Rock Band of The Netherlands”, (Dutch Exposure Project), with their song “Waiting for The Fall”. The second album, In Vacuum, released in 2016, received even more critical acclaim.
This EP is my introduction to the band and it is a very welcoming call to search out the rest of their catalog.
The opener, “Black Train”, has a powerful 1980s sound at the start. Raoul Potters’ voice reminds me of Paul Young, of Mike and the Mechanics fame. This song actually sounds like something Genesis, Power Station, Paul Young’s solo albums, or even some of Jimi Page’s work would create during the same 1980s era. And that’s not bad company to be in. Excellent, powerful guitars and bass, supported with excellent drums. Definitely a keeper.
But the best song on the album is “Cc”. Here the Paul Young vocals really shine through. But the music is also excellent. Soft strummed electric guitar at the open, then Potters sings, “In these dark times, lonely man cried for the last time. I won’t try. You break out. You fell down once again”. One of the best songs of the year for sure. Very powerful and emotional lyrics and vocal delivery. The refrain of, “You break down”, sounds so much like Paul Young, you will be remiss to remember he passed away in July of this year.
“I’m Glad You Survived”, has some cool opening percussion, before more of that Paul Young sound. Raoul Potters’ sings, “Glad you survived, made it through the storm to your safe house”. We all want that this year. The cool percussion continues with strong piano, bass and large electric guitar. Another of the powerful songs on this album. Absolutely influenced by 1980s great sounds, even though they mostly credit recent progressive bands as their influences. Maybe they’d take a listen to some of the bands I’m mentioning here. Those keyboards are very Abacab/Power Station….and of course Phil Collins solo work as well. Excellent!
“NRA”, opens with powerful keyboards matched with intense lead electric guitar and bass. 80s vibes, like an Abacab era jaunt. Thank you for the memories. Go get the NRA! We all need help with them. The guitar solo and landscapes are fantastic and remind me of Marillion and maybe Arena, which again is wonderful territory to be playing in.
“True Fear”, is full of pounding, ‘comin’ to get you’ bass and drums, at its opening. Then Potters’ sings, “we’re getting high on information. Reading a thousand conversations. That only lit the breeze”, as the blistering lead guitar enters. The cool thundering drums are excellent.
This is an excellent EP! One of the best of the year. I know they are probably getting sick of reading all of the comparisons to the 1980s, but that was a glorious time for this powerful, impactful progressive, hard rock. They have a lot of tools in the tool kit to make this band a household name in the Netherlands and beyond. They don’t have to be Anathema or Pineapple Thief; we already have them.
Be yourself and continue your unique version of prog which I would compare more to some of the best work of the 1980s…check your references and you will see some of the best new prog was born in that era. Nothing to be ashamed about being placed in that class at all.
Looking forward to more from this band in the future. Pick up Continuation, and catch up on this band now!
Track List
- Black Train 4:23
- Cc Song – 5:41
- I’m Glad You Survived – 3:59
- NRA – 6:12
- True Fear – 5:15
https://profunaocean.bandcamp.com/album/continuation-ep