HAMADRYAD - SAFE IN CONFORMITY - 2005

This kind of progrock is the reason why I still love to make reviews after 15 years, what an interesting and varied sound! Hamadryad is a band from Quebec, the cradle of Prog Archives. Safe In Conformity is the second effort after their acclaimed debut CD entitled Conservation Of Mass. The line-up has slightly changed because lead singer/guitarplayer Jocelyn Beaulieu has left and bass player Jean-Francois Désilets took over the vocals. After reading the reviews about the first album (which I haven't heard), I get the idea that Hamadryad is almost another band on this new album, take a look at those reviews to compare! Jean-Francois his vocals evoke Peter Gabriel his vocals in a similar way The Watch does. This Italian band comes more to my mind on this album but in general Hamadryad their music indeed has strong Genesis undertones (between Foxtrot and Wind And Wuthering): twanging 12-string acoustic guitars, Moog Taurus bass pedals and organ work in the vein of Tony Banks. But don't judge this new promising band as a Genesis clone because they have their sound but Hamadryad is way from a copycat!

The 11 compositions sound elaborate and varied: great build-ups and grand finales, fluent shifting moods and lots of exciting soli on guitar (some wah-wah) and synthesizer. The one moment the music is mellow with twanging guitars, the other moment it is bombastic, dynamic or it contains a fiery or even metallish guitar solo or spectacular work on keyboards, very compelling and exciting. Some examples: the short piece Sparks And Benign Magic features a wonderful Mellotron and Moog Taurus bass pedalls sound, One Voice evokes Red-King Crimson era delivering propulsive electric guitar riffs and dynamic interplay between drums and guitar and Self Made Man changes from mellow into bombastic with splendid play on guitar and keyboards. I am very curious to the development of this very promising Canadian band, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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