Roland Bühlmann – Dubnos
The first find of 2021, is Roland Bühlmann’s Dubnos. Bühlmann is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, who plays all of the following instruments on Dubnos: Electric and bass guitars, Aeon Sustainer, Korg MS-20, Logic software, synthesizers, branches, oil tank, stones, vase, and wrenches. Accompanying him on this journey are: Terl Bryant, on drums; David Cross, on violin, track 5, and Yukiko Matsuyama, on Koto , for tracks 2 and 5.
Roland Bühlmann, is not only a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer; he is also a pinhole photographer from Switzerland. His music is a blend of progressive rock and fusion.
This instrumental prog music is absolutely both interesting and riveting. For those of you who love synths, keyboards and electronic music, you will love this album. Very original and different from anything I’ve heard. The only thing comparable is Larry Fast’s solo work with Synergy. But this music has a lot of wonderful influences from Asian music, that makes it a little like getting a gift of Larry Fast and Kitaro, mixed with progressive rock. He adds bold bass and electric guitar to lift and create his own brand of music. Very interesting and engaging music.
Every track is full of mystery and imagery that is fun and wonderful for the ears.
My favorite tracks were the opener, “Mighla”, with its opening high electric guitar riffs, engaging the deep keyboard and synth sounds. The guitar work reminds me a little of Steve Howe from Yes.
The title track “Dubnos” is also another deep bass excursion filled with tunnels of cool exploration. The Japanese, plucked half-tube zither; Koto, (the national instrument of Japan), sounds spectacular, intwined with glorious bass and synthesizers.
“Ulbiquitous”, is more of a traditional rocker, only a little jazzier.
“Aaschultz” has some very cool electric guitar picking at its opening. The violin is an excellent addition to this track. The added violin provided a little Eddie Jobson flare to the song.
“Galgallim”, the longest track and closer, matches its divine title with the best synths and keyboards on the album. And the guitar work is pretty stellar too. This one will definitely take your mind to higher reasoning, if you close your eyes and imagine. Similar at times to Yes’ epics, like the middle of “Close to the Edge”, “And You and I’, or some of “Tales from Topographical Oceans”. Very enthralling and visual, if you let it.
This album is just the break you have been looking for to start a new year. A breath of fresh air for progressive music, while at the same time taking you back to some of the best music of the genre, if you close your eyes and listen.
Absolutely different, and just what the doctor ordered after the kind of year we all had in 2020.
Dubnos was released December 22, 2020. The cover picture was created by Heiko Powell, at modern-art-factory.de.
Track List
- Mighla – 6:17
- Dubnos – 9:08
- Omnalén – 8:26
- Ubiquitous – 7:11
- Aaschutz – 9:02
- Galgallim – 11:56