Roland Bühlmann is a Swiss multi-instrumentalist who offers Progressive Rock sounds with forays into Fusion and ethereal atmospheres. The new album “Emnalóc” was released on July 11, 2022 and contains 8 long-form tracks in which world-class artists participate. The opener “Umiion” features a keyboard intro and then evolves into a Prog with a solid and elaborate rhythm section. Tempo changes enrich the track that alternates energetic passages with openings with ethereal atmospheres and dilated melodies. The guitar and keyboard interlacements are valuable, a succession of technical and virtuoso solsiti interventions, alternating with more Experimental passages. With a softer sound in the opening and marked Fusion traits “Assailen” features a deep, load-bearing bass line, with the guitar in evidence with solo inserts. Also in this track the tempo changes are an added value, allowing it to move from more Heavy to more Experimental sections united by the Fusion thread that characterizes its style. “Sevamção” combines Bossa Nova and Fusion with an engaging rhythm section and melodies with the lead guitar at the center of the sound in the first part. The keyboards and percussion give that upbeat and distinctive Bossa touch, an original blend of styles and influences that enhances both Roland’s compositional and performing technique and Luca Calabrese‘s trumpet in the second part. The heavier traits of Roland’s sound characterize “Rithnál” with interweaving hard guitar riffs and keyboards showing a more aggressive side of the artist. Modern and fresh this track has a dark touch and develops high-level solo textures, with a Fusion vein and constant tempo changes, between virtuosities and modulations with effects. Softer and with ethereal melodies “Yndrun” is a soft track, full of pathos and with a slower rhythm section. The guitar offers an intense solo in the middle part, leading us to a second part where keyboards duet with the trumpet giving an Ambient touch in the melodies. A long intro with dilated sounds with Experimental traits characterizes “Letarladoth” which then develops into harder sounds in the middle part with a dark touch. In the second part the intensity increases, in a musical crescendo where the guitar offers an intense solo that gives way in the finale to softer and markedly ethereal sounds. “Berithlan” is a long Experimental track, where for over 7 minutes sounds are modulated and enriched by effects and layered. Clever Roland shows another facet of his sound, more modern and with more electronic sounds, also exploring more avant-garde musical territory. The album ends with the title track “Emnalóc,” which is also the longest in duration, and features a long intro with an elaborate, soft rhythm section. The interweaving keyboards and guitar are soft and with dilated sounds, while the trumpet in the middle part gives a Jazzy touch to the track. more intense parts alternate with openings with ethereal sounds, a trademark of this artist skilled in mixing genres and styles and offering engaging electric guitar solo inserts. An album featuring world-class artists, with Roland proficient on all different instruments and in composition. Intense from start to finish with technical passages and virtuoso solos alternating with openings with ethereal sounds. A recommended listen for all lovers of Prog sounds with marked Fusion influences, entirely instrumental and enriched by continuous tempo changes.
Tracklist
01. Umiion (07:36)
02. Assailen (09:22)
03. Sevamção (05:58)
04. Rithnál (10:45)
05. Yndrun (09:50)
06. Letarladoth (07:15)
07. Berithlan (07:29)
08. Emnalóc (12:22)
Lineup
Roland Bühlmann / Electric and Bass Guitars, Aeon Sustainer, Voice
Synthesizer: Korg MS-20, Logic Software Synthesizers
Percussion: Cooking Pots, Oil Tank, Udu
Terl Bryant / Drums (1-6, 8)
Luca Calabrese / Trumpet l (3, 5, 8)
David Cross / Violin (4)
Ondřej Glogar / Carnyx (1)
Angelo Lebrato / Acoustic Guitar (7)