Artist: Forumz Album: Audio Diplomacy (2007) Label: 10T Records Website: http://fromuzband.com Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: Intro From Fromuz Wax Inhabitants Town Gameplay Imitation Spare Wheel Familiarization Results Harry Heller Theater Babylon Dreams DVD: All eight tracks on the audio CD are performed, as well as two bonus tracks: Remark #12 Dual Ad Librium Prog-fusion from Uzbekistan? Uz-betcha. OK, I apologise for the lameness of the pun. But I was amazed to see this disc in my review pile. The former Soviet republics, to the best of my knowledge, have not yet produced very much in the way of well known progressive music, so to see a fairly major independent prog label (10T Records) releasing something like this, well…I was both intrigued and worried. The worried bit came from a concern that this was a bit of a gimmick. “Oh, look,” one might say. “It’s a prog band from Uzbekistan! That’s unique, isn’t it?” I am more than happy to say that Fromuz is far from a gimmick. These four musicians can play…and more than that, their compositional skill and attention to craft is put on fine display via an enjoyable debut CD/DVD pack titled Audio Diplomacy. As mentioned, Fromuz is a quartet guitar/bass/keyboards/drums. Vitaly Popeloff doubles on MIDI guitar as well, allowing the band to play more with textures and layers of synth sound. It was not until I watched the accompanying DVD (which features the full program on the CD plus two additional tracks) that I realised many of the more intriguing keyboard sounds were coming from Popeloff’s MIDI rig. Speaking of keyboards, Albert Khalmurzayev’s choices of patches and sounds is always interesting, and he plays most of the odd samples and bits of found sound and musique concrete that gives this material it’s odd quirkiness. Khalmurzayev often lays back, comfortable with providing foundation and solid musical backing, but when he lets rip…watch out. The rhythm section of Vladimir Badirov (drums) and Andrew Mara-Novik (bass) is solid, pulsing and driving a solid heartbeat that drives the band and gives it life, while also being capable of flash where needed. Fromuz is a solid band from top to bottom…no weaknesses on show here. Stylistically, Fromuz leans toward a slightly more symphonic form of fusion. Heavy on orchestrated bits, and with a decided penchant for a more Eastern sound, the band’s material is addictive and often slightly exotic. “Gameplay Initiation” centers around an electronic Badirov beat, with Mara-Novik shining on bass and Khalmurzayev offering up some distorted keyboard lines. Meanwhile Popeloff actually plays some straight unprocessed guitar, with a cutting overdrive showcased during solos while rhythm playing is crunchy and thick. “Intro,” which opens both the CD and DVD, gives listeners a chance to hear Popeloff ripping it up on MIDI guitar with a riff that is so insistent and memorable that it remains stuck in my brain for days. I catch myself humming it at inopportune times. I can’t rid myself of it. For that, Fromuz should be both congratulated and sternly talked to. I love the techno feel of “Spare Wheel,” with its cool keyboard parts and a beat you can’t not dance to. If this is one possible future for jazz fusion, I can only hope it comes true soon. Amazingly, the song gets even cooler as the band shifts into a heavier mode, with crunchy rhythm guitar and the electronic beat replaced by a driving acoustic drum pattern. I dare say there’s even a bit of funk tossed into the mix. It’s a diverse composition indeed. “Familiarization Results” opens with a heavy guitar figure over a driving propulsive beat. Moments get pretty angular and intense, and Khalmurzayev shines on some pretty heavy processed synths while Mara-Novik holds down the bottom while simultaneously playing some nice melodies on bass. Khalmurzayev epic synth swells are hair raising as the composition builds toward its conclusion…symphonic, intensely powerful, this is the kind of stuff that makes me bounce in my seat wanting more. The addition of a bonus DVD featuring all eight album cuts plus 2 bonus tracks does more than add value to the set; it offers new listeners (and let’s face it, with a debut album, we are all new listeners) an opportunity to see the group in action. Fromuz shines in a live setting; they pull off their compositions with ease and comfort. Lighting is impeccable, and all members of the band get ample time on screen. What’s more, seeing Fromuz play these pieces gives a much better ides of who is playing what, and how the parts interact with each other. Add in the fact that the two additional tracks (“Remark #12,” an acoustic guitar instrumental, and “Dual ad Libitum”) are every bit as strong as the material chosen for the album, and you have a performance worth watching. I’ll admit that I probably will play the DVD more often than the audio CD; this is not because the CD is lacking, but because I love watching this group play that much. 10T Records should be commended for doing this for a new band, as it really offers great value and gives the buyer something more to enjoy. Fromuz is a bit of an eye opener. They’re an impressive band showcasing impressive musical chops and songwriting that equals their musical capabilities. Audio Diplomacy is a solid debut album, one I’d happily recommend to fans of bands like UK or Brand X. Melodic, intense, and most of all fun, Fromuz is a band to watch in the future. I have two-fold hope as well; that Fromuz releases a second album just as impressive, and that there are bands just as enjoyable yet to be discovered in the former Russian republics. There can’t be just one… Band Members: Vladimir Badirov: drums Albert Khalmurzayev: keyboards Andrew Mara-Novik: bass Vitaly Popeloff: guitars, MIDI guitar