FUSION (PROG)You would think, in the case of instrumental prog-rock albums, that all’s been said that’s got to be said – I mean, how many people are going to rivet their attention to an hour of music by a new progressive band without a vocalist? Well, think again, because this is THE best instrumental prog fusion CD’s you will have heard in a long, long time!
With Xang, all the right ingredients are present - Synths/keyboards, electric guitar, electric bass and drums, and their ensemble and solo work are just sensational. They are a young band with a real knack for composing and arranging, and they have this style of music down to a fine art. As the group cruise through their sixty-two minute set, they attain that rare feeling of variety within any given track, while maintaining a constant flow and consistency of sound throughout - In fact, there is such a strong mix of intensities on show here, that you are actually about 5 tracks into the CD before you really get a chance to catch your first breath. Xang really knows how to play for sure, and the feeling they inject into their rock solid compositions, is nothing short of amazing. If you’re going to insist on comparisons, then Steve Hackett is close, or Camel at their absolute best might be a likely candidate too, with rhythms that are more reminiscent of a line that stretches back to IQ and Marillion. It also features some of the most spectacular guitar/synth duel workouts around, and after you complete your experience this 8-track album, I think you might well be equally spellbound by the spectacular display Xang have put on for our personal pleasure.