FUSEBOXX - Animated (2011)

Music has no boundaries. This has been said many times, but in the case of FUSEBOXX has never been more appropriate.

This four-piece 'Pinoy' (Filipino) Progressive band formed in 2001 and with only one album they've been catalyst and inspiration which opened the doors to progressive music in the Philippines and South Asia area.

Now Fuseboxx is releasing (independently) their 2nd effort "Animated".



The prog style of Fuseboxx is unique. Although their music has several metal passages, what you are going to listen it's not on the extreme side or the overblown Dream Theater-like.

The work on "Animated" falls more into a synth-driven and popular strand of progressive music, not too heavy, nor too bland, instead they are something in between and they deliver it all in a wise way.

In fact, I don't know if there is anything else out there that compares to Fuseboxx's "Animated" album.

The average track length is a little over than 5 min., which is equivalent to most ear and radio-friendly songs. The musical message in this album is easy to digest and understand despite it being uncompromisingly progressive.

These guys made this album under their terms and they already acquired their identity. All band members are very talented and they will show off at the right time.



Fuseboxx's mastermind is keyboardist Eric Tubon who writes most of the songs. He's a terrific synth / keyboard player, providing clever arrangements and tasteful solos.

Mico Ong on Guitars has a great sense of melody, his solos are solid crystal clear and he also shred at certain points with pure flow and feeling.

Drummer Lester Banzuelo is such a talented guy; his palying is fluid and intense when needed, I really like the way he manages those cymbals and the hit-hat. He also has a kickin' double bass mordent.



But the star on this recording is the female singer Abby Clutario, owner of an amazingly angelic and confident voice. Her tone is very easy on the ears, the mind and the heart.

I have to pay special mention to the fact that whilst the album is mixed language, in both English and Tagalog (Filipino), there is not a single time that I felt alienated by being fluent in one and hopeless in the other. Abby has had a strong singing background previously, and this confidence in her vocal works ensures she is not lost in the big sound being conveyed on "Animated".



Apart from her stupendous vocals, Clutario is a great 'stick' player.

There's no real bass guitar in this recording, it is replaced by the 'Chapman Stick', an electric twelve-stringed fretted instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early '70s.

Made famous by session musician Tony Levin (who worked with Peter Gabriel), usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings used to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures. Designed as a fully polyphonic chordal instrument, it can also cover several of these musical parts simultaneously.

These 'sounds' skillfully performed by Abby Clutario contributes even more to give extra textures to Fuseboxx's music.



First track "Overture" is an instrumental track with chants - not operistic, but more like Gregorian chant - with no specific words, just vocal sounds. Interesting, but this isn't representative of the band's sound. In my opinion, his track should be placed below in the tracklist, not as opener.

Next, title track "Animated" is big, epic instrumental with awesome synth passages, killer guitars and tremendous rhythm section. It will set your head on fire and make you feel like flying. A real treat.

"Reflections" has a very commercial structure with nice harmonies and melodic guitars, great orchestration and some really interesting drumming.



Songs with a more poppy feel includes melodic Pagbalik (Returning), the syncopated Uyayi (Cradle Song / Lullaby), and the prog ballad Hibang (Insane).

My favorite track is "No Glory", an energetic and almost catchy song with wonderful keyboards and breaks. Soaring vocals and melodic guitars wraps this very well crafted commercial tune.

Other highlights are "Columns", a vocal track with English lyrics, big epic sound, with the lead singer's voice enhancing the drama in a surprising way, and "Arraw", which has the interesting inclusion of a child choral mixed with prog-metal overtones.





Fuseboxx has delivered a very unique album.

Classified as Prog-Metal, in fact here's much more on offer: sympho, pomp, classic prog, even (not your typically) melodic rock.

Anyone embedded with the glory AOR and prog days of the late '80s and early '90s should check out "Animated". Don’t get me wrong, this is not an album of outright pomp, the underlying rock etiquette is very strong and at times the switch from the off-beat keyboard instrumentals into the more structured guitar sections really work fantastically well and can serve as a timely reminder of how close prog rock is to traditional metal. But it's melodic, catchy and ear-friendly.

What impresses me so much about this disc is the elevation in atmosphere. The whole album is dripping in emotion – both strong and tender.

You can tell the guys have worked a long time together also having formed almost 10 years ago (though with a few personnel changes). There is a certain telepathy between Abby, Mico, Lester and Eric. Nothing feels out of place, loose or unrefined – the guys really do compliment each other.

Kudos to these guys for producing a beautifully layered album that displays a wonderful understanding of the craft of songwriting.

This is such a rich and diverse recording that it is hard not to do a double take to make sure they did not have a big label backing.

The band's decision to release "Animated" independently makes it a little difficult to obtain, but really worth it.

Highly Recommended.





01 - Overture

02 - Animated

03 - Reflections

04 - Pagbalik (Returning)

05 - Columns

06 - No Glory

07 - Uyayi (Cradle Song / Lullaby)

08 - Twilight

09 - Hibang (Insane)

10 - Araw





Abby Clutario - Vocals, Keyboards, Chapman Stick

Eric Tubon - Synthesizers, , Keyboards

Mico Ong - Guitars

Lester Banzuelo - Drums, Percussion









BUY IT !

www.cdbaby.com/cd/fuseboxx

itunes.apple.com/us/album/animated/id445911617