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Emiliano Deferrari

Monty

Review by Gary Hill

There is a style of progressive rock that is exclusive to Italy. This album definitely fits within that zone. That said, don't expect it to sound like any of the other Italian prog artists. This is unique, but it is built within the same vernacular. There is a definite freeform element to this, and there is a lot of fusion in the mix. All in all, this is an intriguing ride with some stellar moments. With the exception of a few chorus words, the lyrics on this is all in Italian, but you don't really need to understand the words to appreciate the music.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2018  Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2018.

Track by Track Review
Aria
Rising up a bit gradually there is a dramatic electronic meets classical vibe that is both spacey and cinematic. This is a short (1:16) instrumental piece that is built around waves of rising and receding sound.
Essere
Jazzy keyboards open this, and the vocals come in over the top of that. This builds upward slowly into a jam that's part jazz and part Italian prog. The vocals get very impassioned and powerful as this number continues.
Ecco
Much more of a rocker, this is more decidedly progressive rock based, too. The guitar sounds are almost Pink Floyd like at times, and the cut has a great mainstream prog groove. The vocals bring more of that Italian prog texture.
L'altroverso
Trippy sounds make up the concept here. This is mellower and weirder, and it grows gradually. This is quintessential Italian prog. It grows upward with some killer electronics.
Vuoto
More of a freeform element starts this, and the cut has a lot of spacey texture and jazzy sound built into it. There are some definite symphonic prog things here, too. Yet we get some funky bass work in the mix.
Get It Right
Bass sounds along with a percussive element that feels synthetic starts this in a weird sort of way. This grows out into a rather percussion oriented and quite electronic jam that's intriguing, if a bit odd. Some comparisons to Frank Zappa are at times warranted, but this is also trademark Italian prog.
White Life
More keyboard oriented at the start, this grows gradually outward after the first vocal section. It's again trademark Italian prog. I dig the bass work on this thing.
Monty
Build around some intricate and intriguing guitar work, this is a mellower kind of piece. There are sound effects and found sounds and things like that built into the arrangement, but basically it's a guitar solo.
Fuoco
There is a building intensity on this cut. It has a freeform sound to it. The piece is quite electronic, but also decidedly Italian prog based. I dig the later portions of the cut where a jazzy kind of musical element drives upward as multiple layers of vocals spin faster and faster. This creates a powerful climbing sound that works really well. In fact, it's one of my favorite passages of the whole disc. It takes it to a piano based bit that ends the music of the album. Hang on, though, as there are some found sound type things at the end.
 
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