Band: Fughu

CD Title: “absence”

Label: Independent

Label Website:

Release Date: 2009

Argentina has always been a kind of secret enclave for progressive rock music. Over the years a number of prominent bands have surfaced from there. You can add another one to the list. They go by the name Fughu and their first CD is entitled absence. This five-piece hail out ofBuenos Aires and consists of Ariel Bellizio (Guitar), Alejandro Lopez (Drums), Juan Manuel Lopez (Bass), Marcelo Malmierca (Keyboards) and Santiago Bürgi (Vocals).

Their CD absence has a total of 12 tracks and a good many of them are in the six or seven minute range although there are a couple shorter and one longer. Stylistically the CD leans pretty heavily in the Prog-Metal vein, the music is bold, dynamic and dramatic but each of the compositions has more on offering than just heavy guitar crunch. The keyboards play quite a prominent role, rather than background atrmospherics, which happens many times in heavier music, the keyboards here are very much a part of the band’s overall sound. The first track “Ashes” [6:33] goes through at least three or four stylistic shifts over its allotted time. The second track “Dead End Start” [5:15] maintains an extremely catchy blues based guitar riff through most of its course. I would say Fughu fall into the same musical vein as bands such as Dream Theater, but in Fughu’s case they create even more musical dynamics, they’re not above inserting soft and delicate musical elements in-between the more aggressive passages. This is certainly true of the mid-paced “Storm” [6:56]; one minute the track is a full on assault and then just as quickly it evaporates into a moody calm before the, well, storm. The musicianship is very accomplished, these guys, really know their chops and it’s all on display as they maneuver through many musical change-ups in time, tempo and volume. Their lead vocalist has a range very similar to James LaBrie but I also hear a bit of Michael Sadler from Saga in there as well. Getting back to the musical style I really liked what they do on the instrumental track “Tilt” [7:31], which starts aggressively enough, but then dissolves into a softer keyboard-flute patch at the one-minute mark which then grows into the stronger guitar section. The track goes through a couple more shifts sounding even a little like early Deep Purple for a minute or two before sliding into an almost cool lounge feel at the six minute mark. I lost track of how many different musical elements were incorporated into this track. In fact this whole disc is just loaded with some serious playing, and not all of it is heavy.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see that Fughu were chosen to support Dream Theater for their South American tour. They would be a good fit. Fans of DT will find much to appreciate here, there’s no question of that. But I think fans of heavier progressive rock will be quite delighted with the music they find on absence. This being their first CD Fughu have really done well, absence is a solid achievement that will please many.