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Marco Mattei Out Of Control Review by Gary Hill This is an unusual release. Parts of it are full-on progressive rock. Other parts, though, fall much more along the lines of folk music. It's all quite strong, though. It should be mentioned that there are some notable guest musicians here. The names of those people are Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Pat Mastelotto and Chad Wackerman. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

Would I Be Me Gentle, melodic sounds are on the menu as this starts. This has a folk rock vibe, but tempered with plenty of prog. The vocals feel more roots-music-inspired. There are some hints of psychedelia in the mix, and the thing really gets into some soaring proggy zones later along the ride.

Picture in a Frame Now, this reminds me a little of 80s King Crimson. The tune has a killer rhythm section presence and a lot of style. It's more decidedly prog than the opener was.

More Intense More of a mainstream melodic rock texture is in the driver's seat. Still, layers of sound over the top bring the prog home.

I'll Be Born Gentle folk music is the order of business here.

Lullaby for You Acoustic guitar and a child's vocal create the opening of this track. It works to a real bluegrass based motif as the adult vocals join. The cut grows outward from there, but doesn't wander far.

Anymore Now, here we get a big change. This is a driving space rocker with no shortage of the rock end of that equation. It's a powerhouse and a great bit of variety.

Tomorrow Coming in with a down-home blues kind of vibe, this piece really grows outward from there. There are some parts of this that definitely make me think of Pink Floyd, particularly the slide guitar. This gets into some driving, rocking zones and the prog is in well represented. It is a great intrumental piece.

Void Speaking of Pink Floyd, the mellower concepts that open this make me think of something from the early parts of "Echoes." The number works out into more of a powered up prog rocker. It's quite classy. A faster-paced, driving mode later creates a real intensity. It's a strong movement. This gets pretty powerful before it's over.

On Your Side More of a melodic mainstream rocker with some prog angles in the mix, this is solid stuff.

After Tomorrow I dig the 1970s styled acoustic guitar that starts this. It has a bluesy element and calls to mind things like The Allman Brothers. As the exploration continues it starts to make me think more of things like Captain Beyond.

Hidden Gems This instrumental rises up gradually and makes its way into something that's part world music, part psychedelic and all cool.

Gone Stripped bluesy guitar starts this. As it works out it gets into some blues meets fusion territory. The guitar soloing on this gets positively scorching. The number is very much a blues rock jam, but there are again some hints of Pink Floyd present.

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