TRACKS FROM THE ALPS

It hasn't been so many good records yet this year, but perhaps I have just listened to the wrong or too few albums. I continue with the genre Neo-prog, a genre I have had very hard to understand. This record though was totally different. Neo-prog in my opinion use to be too loud and also too mediocre, but not this one. "The Watch" is an Italian band led by Simone Rossetti. Noone could avoid hearing that "The Watch" are ispired by Genesis. Perhaps more than just inspired. They seem to keep up the spirit of Genesis' song making and musical world. I am of course talking about early Genesis. "Tracks from the alps" is the band's sixth record and it features Giorgio Gabriel on guitars, both usual and bass, Simone Rossetti on vocals, mellotron, synthesizers and flute, Valerio de Vittorio on keyboards, organ and synthesizer, Marco Fabbri on drums and percussion and Mattia Rossetti on bass guitar and pedals. It was released a half year ago and I am the seventh reviewer.

It is ashort but lovely album which you will listen to with a big smile on your face. It sounds familiar for fans of Genesis but this is of course another, very good band. It contains beautiful melodies, an emotional singstyle and a musical wave of carressing tones. Every song, they are seven, are good but I think some stand out particularly. My favourite is "The Cheating Mountain" which is so lovely and joyful(10/10). The album is full of exuberant melodies such as "Devil's bridge"(9/10) or "Once in a lifetime"(9/10). The average standard is very high and there are no bad tracks even if I of course don't like every minute as much as another one. Rossetti's voice is similar to Peter Gabriel but you hear it's not the same. A little bit of an Italian accent could be heard and that is great. i should be even happier and perhaps given them five stars if they had sung in Italian. Finally I am glad to see that music such this is made even in these pale and modern days. Music was better long time ago but there are glimpses of glory yet. There is hope for humanity.