Fibonacci Sequence -
Numerology


(CD 2010, 47:17, Private Release)

The tracks:
  1- Commencement(2:47)
  2- Neap Tide(9:21)
  3- Primrose Path(6:38)
  4- Dawn(2:56)
  5- Catlord(8:55)
  6- Illuminati(0:42)
  7- Work In Progress(6:54)
  8- Missing Time(8:50)
  9- Faunus(11:18)
10- IO(9:14)

Fibonacci Sequence Website       


I am finally getting the chance to write a review about my personal number one album of 2010. When I heard the songs somewhere on the internet I was so stunned that I placed this band at my number one position for last year. After getting in touch with them, they sent me their promotional package for free-thanks guys. But who are they, you might ask and why am I putting them at the highest spot on my top ten? I will try and give you some answers.

Fibonacci Sequence is a band from Milwaukee, that started in 2008 and consists of; Michael Butzen on guitar, Thomas Ford on drums and Jeffrey Schelke on keyboards. On the Numerology album, the guys got some help from bass player Chris Kringel, (who's fretless bass does some wonderful things on the album) Chad Burkholz, who also plays some parts at his bass guitar and Elizabeth Grimm, who plays violin on three tracks. In 2010, the band released this instrumental progressive rock/metal album that can be bought at their MySpace page.

Opener Commencement starts with the sound of an old vinyl LP, then continues as a first impression of the interaction between the guitar and the keyboard, with a steady drum and some melodic bass underneath. Neap Tide just does it for me, the combination of bass and guitar, the adventurous drums and wonderful keyboard parts that tell a story. Who needs a vocalist here? Grooving, virtuosity, what else can I say? Primrose Path seems to take the same road as the previous song, nicely grooving along, but then the funk hits you in the face, cool bass and tremendous guitar licks makes this a perfect song. If you want to hear how expressive a guitarist can be, you just have to listen to this magnificent song, with a nice and relaxed middle section lead by a well-played piano/keyboard. A showcase for a fretless bass, piano and an acoustic guitar can be heard in the following Dawn. It sounds like elegance in simplicity. Cranking up the guitars again, the heavy drumming and riffs lead to Catlord, where the atmosphere changes from heavy to smooth and back again-check out the drums in combination with the fretless bass, followed by some of the best guitar parts of the album which are hypnotizing for my ears with the brilliant keyboards taking turns with majestic guitars. Illuminati is a forty two second interlude which leads to Work In Progress, another great composition with influences of Latin American music. The nicely gliding bass, followed by a staccato guitar grows into a furious midsection where both players battle for the best performance. But let's not forget Thomas' drumming; steady, but very lyrical with fusion influences. A traditional piano opens Missing Time, then Thomas creates a driving undercurrent that seamlessly shifts through a series of odd time signatures. The guest appearance of the violin creates a new kind of atmosphere. Combining the keyboards with the classical violin gives this song a special touch. Over eleven minutes long, and the longest song of the album is Faunus; a song with a tremendous drum pattern and a diversity of virtuosos on their instruments. Technical guitars trade places with furious keyboards and violin. And in between all of this, the bass guitarist plays his own fantastic melodies, then a cool almost acoustic piece with an emotional electric guitar solo finishes the song. For the final Io, the band gets in a more relaxed mood, acoustic guitar, with an electric solo, that goes on top of it, dark atmospheric keyboards and the perfect fretless bass are just the beginning. The song turns into virtuosity when the guys hit the power button, to close this fantastic album with a bang. By the way, the vinyl LP that opened the album, also closes it.

Fibonacci Sequence has made a hell of an album. For me, it can compete with the Liquid Tension Experience albums. Numerology has the same intensity and virtuosity-and they add even something LTE lacks; emotion.

Most people will think I am crazy putting this fairly unknown band at the top of my list, but hey, something like this deserves to be there. I only can respect these guys for making this great music. Six stars.…

***** Pedro Bekkers (edited by Robert James Pashman)

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