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"Sometimes more confusing than in the past, Syndone remains one of the most inspired flagships of modern progressive rock."
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4/5
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Like a well-tuned metronome, Syndone returns every two years with a new album under his arm since his resurrection in 2010 and the release of "Melapesante". This new record "Eros & Thanatos" develops a new concept around the eternal and inexhaustible themes of love and death.
From the original line-up (at least since "Melapesante") only two emblematic elements remain: Nik Comoglio, composer and keyboard master and Riccardo Ruggeri, lyricist and charismatic singer. The two men are used to surround themselves with many guests, sometimes prestigious, as it is the case here with the presence of Steve Hackett and Ray Thomas (ex-Moody Blues), each one for one track. Syndone have also found the backbone of an expanded group, with four new musicians joining the duo. Although the band now includes no less than three keyboard players, they still don't have a regular guitarist.
This is an atypical feature of the band's music, which has always been a feature of their music. Syndone's albums are as many magnificent pages written to the glory of progressive rock and "Eros & Thanatos" won't reverse the trend. As usual, the scores are full of surprises. Listening to a Syndone album is like sailing on the tumultuous waters of a capricious river. Sometimes the current carries you away at high speed, threatening to drown you in its swirls, sometimes you float in complete peace on soothed sheets.
Musical styles jostle each other: fusion ('Area 51'), classical impressionism ('Gli Spiriti Dei Campi') or jazz rock (same title), lyrical music ('Terra Che Brucia', 'Cielo Di Fuoco'), symphonic ('Duro Come La Morte', 'L'Urlo Nelle Ossa'), tribal ('Fahra'), folk ('Alla Sinistra Del Mio Petto'), no piece really escaping the mix of genres and often containing several themes, when it is not simply a music in constant evolution without any real theme. Add to this a cappella vocals, big organs, some discordances, a couple of screams of rage and vocodorized voices in an ELO way, without forgetting a melancholic cello as a hidden bonus, and you will understand what we meant by "the scores are rich".
But, if until now Syndone had shown a remarkable mastery to accompany its overflowing creativity with a mastery allowing it to make homogeneous a statement made of such heterogeneous elements, we have to admit that "Eros & Thanatos" suffers from slight gaps in this domain, the impetuosity of some tracks not managing to hide a certain lack of guideline ('Area 51', 'Qinah') and the transitions being often more abrupt than usual.
But this is a very light criticism compared to the superb themes scattered throughout the album. Moreover, the interpretation is, as always, irreproachable, from the numerous keyboard sounds (piano, Hammond, moog, mellotron, large organs and less vintage keyboards) to Riccardo Ruggeri's lyrical and theatrical vocals (but which don't forget to be poignant), without omitting a formidable bass, the always original presence of the vibraphone and the remarkable interventions of the numerous guests.
At times more confusing than in the past, Syndone remains one of the most inspired jewels of modern progressive rock. If you don't know this band yet, take a moment to get to know them. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Frammento (01:01) 02. Area 51 (03:07) 03. Terra Che Brucia (05:26) 04. Gli Spiriti Dei Campi (05:27) 05. Qinah (06:10) 06. Duro Come La Morte (05:54) 07. Alla Sinistra Del Mio Petto (03:08) 08. Fahra (03:19) 09. L'Urlo Nelle Ossa (07:15) 10. Bambole Rmk (04:15) 11. Cielo Di Fuoco (07:38)
LINEUP:
Gigi Rivetti: Claviers Marta Caldara: Vibraphone / Mellotron (3) / Piano (7) Martino Malacrida: Batterie / Percussions Maurino Dellacqua: Basse Nik Comoglio: Claviers Riccardo Ruggeri: Chant / Choeurs / Vocoder / Guitare Acoustique 12 Cordes Pino Russo: Invité / Guitare Classique (3) / Oud (5) Puntorec String Orchestra: Invité Ray Thomas: Invité / Flûte (9) Steve Hackett: Invité / Guitare Électrique (11) String Quartet: Invité Tony De Gruttola: Invité / Guitare Acoustique (8)
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