The Experiment is a musical project led by Paolo Vallerga (N° Q), an Italian scenographer, author, composer and writer. It is his first major musical project. We can't talk about a concept album since there is no thread or narrative that is followed. However, it does have its color and flavor. Conceived as a rock album, The Experiment is based on a dozen of artists from geographical origins as different as their musical horizons. Between progressive rock, metal and poetry, the album is a real UFO in the musical landscape of 2014.
The project lives up to its name as the listener will live a real musical experience, original and unique. The construction of the album is reminiscent of a finely chiselled concept despite the lack of linearity in the narration. This impression is largely reinforced by the multitude of artists and especially singers (four in all) who succeed one another at the microphone, reminiscent of the metal-prog frescoes of Ayreon, Epysode or other conceptual projects of the same kind. No pompous headliners or big names in this casting since, however talented the musicians may be, they are all part of a circle of close friends of the whimsical creator. Among them, members of Therion, Lord Byron or Loch Vostok to name only the most famous. Following the example of Samuel Arkan, Paolo Vallerga wanted to gather his entire cast physically for recording sessions concentrated over a few days in order to get the best of each artist and an overall cohesion that you can feel on each track.
And the result is bluffing. The music constantly oscillates between a metal sometimes aggressive ("Romatiquesque") or twirling ("The Testament Of Cremer" with its long oriental litany and wild soli), and a hovering and aerial rock. In this register, the solo of "Unpainted Leaves" coupled with the delicate voice of Linnéa Vikström is one of the highlights of the album. Likewise, the very progressive "Il Commandante" (the only title in Italian) with its bewitching flute would almost make you regret coming to the end of the opus already. In another register "The Dream Of The Wale" or "The Labyrinths" seem to come straight out of a rock opera with their epic developments and vocal duos. All in all, each title draws the quintessence of its potential and the musicians who play it. The impeccable interpretation and the extreme intelligence of the writing give each moment spent in the company of this N°Q a magic that borders on excellence.
It is quite difficult to describe the immediate emotions that each note of each track brings. This N°Q offers an experience that could well become one of the biggest successes of the year and could well reconcile the most sceptical people towards transalpine progressive rock/metal...