Another band that escaped the sweeping sonar searches, flying under the radar, stimulating my panting chase even further. Perseverance certainly paid off as I also found their current 2025 album Abaton as well as an earlier live Pink Floyd tribute album they made, as they started out as a covers band back in 1993. It becomes obvious this talented and united bunch have honed their craft with plenty of practice. Keyboardist Danilo Cherni was even member of Goblin Rebirth, a band I still enjoy regularly today. Maurizio Perfetto is a dazzling guitar slinger, the rhythm section of bassist Adriano Lo Giudice and Derek Wilson on drums while the male and female vocals are stupendous as both Gabriele Marciano and Roberta Lombardini excel on their microphone duties. Last but certainly not least Cristiana Polegri blows a mean saxophone. The set list on this 2016 release is comprised of 11 compact tracks, exuding intensely fresh, radiant and profound melodicism, exemplary technical prowess on all the instruments but most of all, an atmosphere overflowing with inspiration and a redolent stylistic beauty, a quality that the Italians own in spades, culturally speaking (which explains why I visit the place every year). Here is a prime example of my proverbial PAM effect in full regalia: passion, atmosphere and melody in all its glory. The impeccable effort display has all one could ask for, its theatrical, bombastic, bucolic, urban, folky, bluesy, thrilling and all encompassing, traits that any music lover could appreciate to the fullest. The fact that Italian is the only language of choice makes the entire concept so much more palatable, somehow less impactful had it been sung in accented English.
From the opener “DNA” onwards, the roads of dreams are clearly defined, an easy task just taps your heels and follow the yellow brick road, Marciano’s mellifluous voice coming across as a genuinely accessible gift, and the backing vocals applying the boosted drive but it’s the instrumental foundation that strikes the ‘prog’ cord, lethally accurate playing by all concerned, smoldering a litany of sonic details from the teamwork of interlacing piano, synths, guitars, flute, bass and drums with a sax to seal the deal. This contrast between breezy facility and intense involvedness will be a welcome leitmotiv throughout the album. A touch of drama is to be discovered on the title track, a sensitive ballad in the full Italian canzone tradition, with the vocal duet exuding a bucolic charm that cannot be denied. The ardent tonality of the language should be appealing even if one cannot understand the words, it’s like opera, the meaning can be easily found in the delivery, especially when crowned by a blistering guitar sortie from Maurizio Perfetto and the resonating female vocalizations.
Demonstrating their ability to contrast different stylistics, “Example 10” veers from Floydian exaltations, to rocking back and forth between more conventional balladry and a touch of oddity. Regardless, it’s tight as a drum with just the perfect amount of thoughtful melodicism, with an overt dose of positive energy, the sassy saxophone blasting the fire into the night sky. Even more conventionally structured is “Antitesi”, a soft rock anthem that gradually goes into sweeping vocal vortex mode as it approaches its apotheosis, slicing off a massive chorus and gripping guitar splurge. “Lvst” puts Roberta Lombardini into the dreamy spotlight, as she gets to show off her considerable lung power, crushingly convincing in the gentler passages and bellowing like a siren on the more demanding sections. The instrumental equilibrium keeps everything grounded, very much team work oriented, another robust saxophone venture for good measure. The pleading voice on “Strade” really hits home, both aching and wounded, as if the last candle of a flaming love has finally been blown, the anguish emanating from the raging guitar and the despair from the ballistic saxophone are definite treats for the ears, but sorrowful reminders of how much love can hurt. Gabriele puts on quite the performance.
The longest track is “Ipazia”, nearly seven minutes of a dreamier variety, a suitable vocal line that switches onto a vibrant groove, laid down by the rhythm section on which Cherni can noodle on his synths with abandon. The gritty Perfetto guitar follows suite, a sudden pool of ambient reflection in a jazzier mode interrupts the flow with a sultry sax in playful mode and back to the vocal ending, the proggiest piece here.
The piano on “Lamento in Morte di Garcia Lorca” is suitably mournful , Roberta eulogizing in a sombre but respectful tone, delicately rolling her R’s with charming elegance, a guitar glitter and choir a fitting celebration.
On the multi-faceted “Besviva”, propulsed by a riffing roller coaster of bluesy rock a la ZZ Top, the eventual shift to a languorous vocal passage with harpsichord-like keyboards last only long enough to flip the switch back and forth between athleticism and reflective ambiance, voice effects and a terrific Lo Giudice bass incursion adding to the mystery. A full sonic buffet is now open to the public.
Reverting to passionate balladry, the sumptuous “La Storia Degli Ultimi” has Marciano and Lombardini vocally embracing the moment, dripping with melancholic overtones, combining on an overarching chorus to heighten the emotions. The piano has a Toto feel , actually an accurate description of this band’s overall capabilities, the stunning lead guitar solo could have been Lukather, its that good, with a sensational sound.
The second half of the album really elevates the quality of the musicianship and material to a convincing level, making this album a reference for those special moments when a relaxed mood demands just quality music, without the mathematical equations that often come with symphonic prog. Nowhere near bombastic Symphonic RPI, preferring a more accessible slant does in no way diminish the pleasure of enjoying this noteworthy recording, as it straddles a no-man’s land between genres, not gleefully attempted by most style conscious bands. It has a worthy place in any adult collection.
4 roads of dreams