DFA - "Work In progress Live" (2001)

A live recording from NEARfest 2000.
Very good sound and an impressive live performance.
I had not heard DFA before and was pleasantly surprised.
Six tracks and clocking in at a little over an hour, this is an impressive set of symphonic rock. The style, for those of you who aren't initiated to this band, is very much focused on long, jam-like and very complex tracks.
The first track is a good example of this. "Escher" has a very evocative sound, the 'groove' is there right from the start and the keyboardist throws waves and waves upon very atmospheric, ambient sound, all within a very strong drum/bass section.
Its the many depths in the complex, instrumental parts that catch my attention here. Sometimes the tracks stretch out a bit, the playing gets closer to neoprog with fusionelements in it, something I am not too fond of. (Track 3, "Trip on Metro" might be an example of this) But for the most part the songs keeps evolving and/or contains interesting arrangements to keep the listener satisfied.
Since I am beginner to the new italian progscene I cant draw similarities to other bands.

Anyway, this live-CD comes higly recommended and serves as an excellent introduction to DFA, one of Italys most promising and best new bands around.