BESTIE, UOMINI E DÈI

In the early Prog Archives era, the 2004-2006 years, I was part of a bunch of inspired collaborators who were determined to add Classic Italian prog, and interesting new Italian prog. Like the highly acclaimed debut album Nostos (2005) from Ubi Maior, lots of 4 star ratings, and euphoric words. I had to think about that when I recently got the new Ubi Maior album to review, the band only its fourth effort in 15 years. And my first musical encounter with Ubi Maior since 2009, because I lost the band after the second album Senza Tempo, also warmly received on Prog Archives.

Well, after a few listening sessions I am very pleased to conclude that Ubi Maior still succeeds to blow me away, the entire running time! The six composition (between 5 and 10 minutes) contain lots of flowing shifting moods (between dreamy and bombastic), dynamics, tension, variety, strong work on keyboards (by Gabriele Manzini, also The Watch) and guitar (by Marcella Arganese, also Marillion tribute band Mr. Punch) and fine musical ideas. The fluent rhythm-section feautures Gianmaria Giardino on bass, and Alessandro Di Caprio on drums, the latter played with Alex Carpani, Aldo Tagliapietra, David Jackson, Bernardo Lanzetti and David Cross. This is topped by the inspired and often theatrical vocals by Mario Moi who also plays violin and trumpet. What an interesting Italian prog rock line-up!

Nero Nott. First intense bluesy guitar and halfway wonderful violin work in a mid-tempo, then a sensitive electric guitar soli. In the final part a building up to a sumptuous conclusion with howling guitar, lush Hammond and a sensational flashy synthesizer solo. This is blended with powerful emotional vocals, an excellent start!

Misteri Di Tessaglia. Tension, dynamics and a lush instrumentation. From dreamy with piano and warm vocals to an exciting ominous atmosphere with violin, raw guitar riffs, howling electric guitar, flashy synthesizer flights and beautiful violin. And from a bombastic eruption with moving guitar and emotional vocals to an exciting grand finale featuring strong guitar work and an awesome Mellotron choir sound.

The track Wendigo delivers very powerful and bombastic music with awesome keyboards (from church organ and Hammond to tender piano), excellent guitar play (from sensitive to heavy) and swirling violin work. The compelling parts with theatrical vocals reminds me of Il Balletto Di Bronzo and the heavy parts with Hammond, guitar and violin of early Kansas.

In Nessie again hints of Kansas but also a jazzy element (trumpet), prog metal (heavy guitar, flashy synthesizer flights and thunderous drums), a swinging piano solo and romantic violin, what a variety!

The track Fabula Sienis starts mellow with twanging guitar and flageolets, halfway an acceleration to a mid-tempo beat and finally wonderful interplay between moving guitar and tender piano, another strong example how interesting Ubi Maior works with tension and dynamics.

The final epic composition is the title track, close to 10 minutes, this one showcases Ubi Maior its huge potential. First a bombastic Hammond sound, romantic violin and theatrical vocals in a slow rhythm. Then sensitive electric guitar runs and again lush Hammond. Halfway an accellaration with bombastic overtones, inspired vocals, powerful Hammond, howling guitar runs and a church organ sound, how exciting. Now the climate turns into dreamy with twanging acoustic guitar and flute, this is pastoral prog like early Genesis. Next warm romantic vocals and tender piano arpeggios join. Finally a great build-up with a soaring tremolo Hammond sound, tender piano, slow drum beats and soft synthesizer flights. In the final part a pleasant musical surprise featuring flowing slide guitar runs (early Seventies Pink Floyd comes to my mind), blended with piano arpeggios and again soaring Hammond waves. What a wonderful and delicate musical idea, and what a beautiful way to end this album!

If you are up to the theatrical overtones in the inspired Italian vocals this new Ubi Maior album is a treat for the aficionados of Old School Prog and Classic Italian Prog!

P.s.: This review was previously published (in a slightly different version) on the Background Magazine website, the oldest Dutch progrock source.