REBUS

Barock Project is an Italian band that have released five studio-albums (between 2007 and 2017) and one live CD entitled Vivo (from 2016). The musical Brainchild is Luca Zabbini (composer, keyboards and piano), he likes play with a huge variety, from classical to rock and jazz.

On their debut album entitled Misteriose Voci (2007) Barock Project delivered strong Italian vocals (with a very pleasant emotional undertone), an accessible and melodic sound (loaded with the distinctive Hammond organ) and a tasteful colouring and strong interplay by guitar and keyboards. The more mellow parts with twanging acoustic guitar and good vocals Barock Project reminded me of Angelo Branduardi. In the more symphonic rock interludes with omnipresent vintage keyboards I noticed strong elements of Dutch keyboard driven pride Trace.

These elements we can enjoy even better on the more elaborate and captivating second effort entitled Rebus (featuring guitarist Max Scarcia).

The ten compositions (running time around 70 minutes) are loaded with variation, strong musical ideas and outstanding work on guitar and keyboards. The element rock we can trace in the track Enemy (blended with prog metal and a biting guitar solo) and in some songs in which the rock has strong classical undertones (indeed , Barock rocks!) like Don Giovanni (rock opera vocals, orchestral keyboards and a fiery wah-wah solo) and Duellum featuring a wonderful Minimoog and Hammond sound along a swinging piano solo.

Then the tracks Polvere Di Stelle (fine swinging bass) and Veleno (captivating electric guitar solo with a Spanish flavor) that remind me of Al DiMeola his excellent jazzrock (Elegant Gypsy-era) with exciting interplay, especially the interaction between the guitar and kebyoards is sensational! Next 24-carat symphonic rock (with hints of 76-77 Genesis) in the Corsa Elettronica, Akery (wonderful vintage keyboards sound) and the first part of Veleno (beautiful howling guitar runs).

Finally I would like to mention the musical surprises in Save Your Soul (Jethro Tull-like flute traverse, Minimoog runs like Celebration from PFM and folky piano evoking the Balkan sound) and the PFM-like conclusion of Nostradamus featuring dreamy flute, acoustic guitar and warm English vocals.

I had to get used to the huge variation but in the end I am delighted about this second Barock Project album!