Fafard, Antoine: Occultus Tramitis

Antoine Fafard is the bass player for the Canadian prog fusion band Spaced Out. He released his first solo album Solus Operandi in 2011 and has just come out with his sophomore effort entitled Occultus Tramitis.

Fafard is helped out with some fabulous players including Terry Bozzio (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, U.K.), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, OSI), Simon Phillips (Toto, Derek Sherinian), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth), Dave Weckl (Chick Corea) and Jerry Goodman (The Flock, Mahavishnu Orchestra). It is an incredible list of players and the best part is Fafard is as gifted a player as his hired help.

"Peace For 4" opens the album and is a fine slice of melodic fusion. The violin work of Goodman, often used as a lead instrument, is exceptional as it is throughout the album. Tempo changes, quieter interludes, tricky drum fills from Harrison and excellent solos of bass will make your ears long for more. "The Chamber" is more rocking with the guitar rhythms a little crunchier (courtesy of Scott Henderson) and the bass a little funkier. In "13 Good Reasons" the crisp rhythms are supplemented with dissonant violin work adding an eclectic edge to the sound. Jean-Pierre Zanella's sax solo is superb and Phillips work on the drum kit is exactly what we have come to expect,; simply outstanding. The performances from Wackerman ("Sum Of Six", "Fur & Axe') and Bozzio ("Holding Back Time") are also top notch. If you dig bass solos just listen to the fluid "Tree O" and the album ending "Prelude No.2 in C Minor" to get your fix.

An impressive sophomore effort to the say the least, Occultus Tramitus is world class fusion played by some of the best musicians around. For fusion fans, this is one of the easiest decisions you will ever make. Released on Unicorn Digital.

Track Listing:
1. Peace For 4 (5:24)
2. The Chamber (5:01)
3. 13 Good Reasons (6:23)
4. Sum Of Six (6:15)
5. Holding Back Time (5:55)
6. Fur & Axe (5:04)
7. Funkevil (5:42)
8. Tree O (5:18)
9. Slydian (5:28)
10. Methamorphosis (5:54)
11. Prelude No.2 in C Minor (1:49)

Added: August 20th 2013
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 2713
Language: english

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