I don't know if it'll fit your "modern" prerequisite, but Optima is sort of somewhere between sans and serif:

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/adobe/optima/

Flair, yes; sans and serifed, yes; entirely appropriate, well...

http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/t26/amplifier/light/

So is Beorcana a family designed by Carl Crossgrove.
http://www.fonts.com/FindFonts/detail.htm?pid=433477

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated! To try and help narrow it... I would say 80% Sans, 20% Serif is the balance. Think Georgia but a bit cleaner.

Cheers
Dave

Fritz Quadrata? Aviano?

Good suggestions Pablo. Yes, you're on the right track. I was going to also suggest Humanist 521 but with a tad more of a serif feel. Will take a good look at Fritz Quadrata, thanks.

Hope I've made it clear. Sorry, difficult to explain {for me}... ;-)

Dave

My some-serif, semi-serif, and ittybitty-serif typefaces:
Beaufort
Paradigm
Sensibility

Finnegan?

Thanks guys. Beaufort looks good, as does Finnegan. This has been really helpful. Thanks to everyone who has contributed. Feel free to suggest more options if you can think of one that might be suitable.

Dave

Another way to look at it is DeGroot's "The Mix" cut of Thesis

A couple more: Amira from Cyrus Highsmith, and and Mentor Sans from Michael Harvey.

The original "Optima": Stellar.
Another classic: Albertus.

More in this Glyphic list at FontShop.

My own Hypatia Sans fits the description, I think. Besides a bit of flaring of stems, there are vestigial serifs on the lowercase:
http://www.thomasphinney.com/2010/05/hypatia-sans-typeface-shipping/
http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/2010/05/hypatia_sans_pr.html

Cheers,

T

Fontin Sans
Fertigo Pro

Minerva, Magma

Laudatio
http://www.bertholdtypes.com/bq_library/90089.html
by Poppl

Pascal
Penumbra (which lets you choose the serifness)
Avance

Or my Harrier:
http://www.themicrofoundry.com/other/nour&patria/dev/nour-latin.gif

hhp

How about my Tournedot? At least Nick thinks it's not a proper serif face:
http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/suomi/tournedot/

Also, look for a font called TRIPLET from miles inc

errmmm... Rotis?
ooh yeah, that is not a typeface

@Nick: Do you have any plans on reviving the sc & osf for Beaufort? I hope so.

So far I have only updated the "normal" scaling to OpenType, not the Condensed or Extended.
Beaufort Pro does indeed have sc & osf.

Rotis in spirit is greater than most any font in application.

hhp

The ghost of Beatrice Warde, the great spirit of Rotis. This is getting weird. Keep up the good work :)

BTW Ms Warde, any truth to the rumor you will in charge of the new typography faculty at Miskatonic University?
The Crystal Goblet is rather out of its element at Hogwarts.

Rotis is well deserving of a spirit.

Rotis was the reason I went into typography, I fell in love with it when I was 10

An interesting discussion, guessing what glyphic/flaired sans or semi-serif might work with an unknown logo look. I vote with Berthold's Poppl-Laudatio, or perhaps throw Serials' Dragon into the mix.
But instead of an unfocused list or vote for the categories' faves, couldn't we have a look at the logo? Or at least an as-similar-to typeface to spin off of?

Wow! I've been away for a little while and come back to see lots of excellent posts! Thanks to everyone who has kindly contributed. I've evaluated every suggestion and Friz Quadrata has been chosen as the best fit.

The letters for the logo have been customised. I'll try to post something up when it's done.

Cheers
Dave

I'm looking for a modern font...

Friz Quadrata (1973) not exactly modern.

Nick, a better phrase would have been to say "a font that will work within a modern environment / for a modern application."

Can anyone identify this font please?

Neutraface. (Light)

You sir, are a wonderful person!

Cheers
Dave