Refestramus: Intourist

There’s been quite a buzz around Refestramus, the band with the makey-up name that, quite cleverly, ensures that if you google it, the only references that appear are ones about them. Intourist (one word) appears to be the second album from the project, a core group of Derek Ferguson (drums), Jerry King (bass), Derek Pavlic (guitars, mellotron and viola) and Rogelio Souza (keyboards) augmented by a host of guest singers - Ian Beabout, Nathan James, Mitch Lawrence, NIDA and Craig Cairns. The starting point for this album certainly appears to be the 70s and in particular the US prog-pomp scene that was embodied by the likes of Styx and Kansas, with melodies, hooks galore and an ever so uplifting feel surging throughout. Oddly, in flashes I’d also add Meat Loaf (or Jim Steinman) and Alan Parsons Project to that list, but then we also get passages of 80s synth pop, so if you’re looking for an act who constrain themselves, seek elsewhere.

That more pop oriented section arrives in the “Zombie Love� passage of the multi-part title track, a piece that by this stage has already melded harmony vocals to some hook laden choruses, intricate guitar work and flashes of keyboard excellence. For my taste, across the album, the production on the drums is flat, leading to some of the more sprightly tracks to lack the dynamics you expect, but with “Asuncion� (this band are big in Paraguay, supposedly) a jaunty walk deep into Styx territory and the album opening “DMK� combining some Starcastle with a dash of Alan Parsons pomposity, it’s easy to forgive. “Mr Darwin� adds some more obvious Kansas-isms - is that viola playing those ‘fiddle-lines’? I’m not sure - harmonica follows, as do keys and in the end there’s an element of blues in this rocking romp. For me, I’m less sold on the theatrical, jazzy “Side Hustle�, or the slower “Red Apple�, which is maybe the only time that things really come unstuck. Unfortunately, there’s also a bonus track version tacked on with another couple of ‘extras’, the funky “Mr Skin� and a Spanish version of “Asuncion�. Now, bang for buck is always good, but if I was to be honest, with the album closing track proper, “Smiling� a little under par also, the back third of Intourist does begin to slide just a little more than it should.

Sometimes more is, indeed, just more. However, when this album is good, it verges into being absolutely top-notch. If Refestramus can retain their focus, what comes next could see that list of Google hits grow and grow, because the potential for greatness is undoubtedly here, even if on this occasion it’s allowed to fall from grasp.

Track Listing
1. DMK

2. Asunción

3. The Devil Returns

4. Intourist Suite (a. Nevalyashka, b. Agent M. vs The Sex Lizard, c. Zombie Love)

5. Mr. Darwin
6. Side Hustle

7. The Red Apple

8. Smiling

9. Mr. Skin (CD Only Bonus)

10. The Red Apple (Acoustic) (Bonus)

11. Asunción (Española) (Bonus)

Added: October 12th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Refestramus @ bandcamp
Hits: 331
Language: english

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