Von Doba - 7 out of 10 Believe
Rock, Pop, Progressive
Texas, United States
Overall Impression: Wow! Where do I begin?! This is an incredibly inventive and bold slice of Prog pie! Von Daba has a very unique musical voice, and this is no doubt a culmination of the artist's wide-spanning musical influences and tastes. I can best describe 7 out of 10 Believe as a bombastic journey through time and space! And I dig it! And I couldn't help but chuckle at the "utterly anti-marketable" remark, as a guitar player myself who grew up on prog and also attempted to create 10-minute epics, I get you! One fellow progger to another, have ye faith! There is always a market out there! Haha
Strongest Point(s): It goes without saying there is a lot to digest here, and the musicality on display is highly inspiring. The instrumentation is varied and continually changing throughout the track which creates ever-evolving layers and a great sense of dynamism that keeps the listener on their toes throughout. The melodic content here is also extremely varied and weaves in and out of different genres with confidence and gravitas. The interplay between instruments is fantastic and this again is down to the strength and maturity of the writing, ideas and motifs are developed with a clear understanding of where they are going to go next and how they will progress the piece further. There is a quirkiness to the writing that is extremely refreshing, and the vocal interludes heighten that quintessential prog sound and feel. Love the Frank Zappa-like guitar solos also, perfect for this type of composition.
Target Audience Appeal: This is a prog lover's dream, and I like how it feels both modern and contemporary, targeting a prog/experimental fan base is certainly the best way to go.
Artist target suggestions: Yes, Dream Theater, Uriah Heap, King Crimson, Camel, Focus, Steve Miller, Caravan, Asia, Opeth, Frank Zappa, Porcupine Tree, Eloy, Steven Wilson, The Moody Blues, IQ, Gentle Giant
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About the Reviewer:
Andre is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related and strived to become a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.