THE SANCTUARY

Alex Carpani was born in the Swiss city Montreux in 1970, with an Italian father and a French mother. On his sixth he was taught organ, then piano and also writing compositions. The way he discovered progressive rock is very special: he was in the same class as the son of the late Keith Emerson named Aaron, at Keith his home he got familiar with ELP and Alex loved it!

In 1993 he released his first solo album entitled Hypothesis, followed by numerous projects including the very interesting CD Waterline in 2007 featuring Aldo Tagliapietra (Le Orme), Tony Spada (Holding Pattern) en Paul Whitehead (designer of the early Genesis LP's).

On this solo album The Sanctuary drummer Gigi Cavalli Cocchi (Mangala Vallis and Moongarden) and guitar player Ettore Salati (ex-The Watch, The RedZen and SoulenginE) are invited as guest musicians. Listening to the 10 compositions on The Sanctuary I was often carried away to Vintage Keyboard Heaven due to the sound of flashy Minimoog synthesizer flights, majestic Mellotron choirs, sparkling Grand piano and sumptuous Hammond organ. Especially in the ELP inspired Templar's Dream and swirling solos in Knights And Clergymen). Ettore Salati's guitar work is in the shadow of the lush keyboards but he plays very tasteful and varied, from powerful riffs to flowing and sensitive runs with hints of Steve Hackett (like in Entering The Sanctuary). And in Master Of Ceremonies he delivers a captivating duel on flamenco guitar with Mellotron choirs, goose bumps! Some tracks contain English vocals, these sound decent but not on the level of the other instruments. I am sure that singing in their wonderful native language would have given these songs more emotional depth.

Nonetheless, this new effort by Alex Carpani and his musical friends has turned into a very pleasant progrock experience with the focus on exciting vintage keyboards, recommended! My rating: 3,5 star. In 2014 and 2016 Alex Carpani released two other acclaimed albums as I look at the PA ratings.