NORN

Here is another one of those prog bands that came and went after 2 albums, disappearing for eleven years until one unexpected day this year, they resurface like a submarine in search of fresh air for its crew. 2013's "Beyond the Storm" was quite a revelation, enjoying it immensely, though not having had the chance to review it. With the regal "Norn" and its clear progression to a higher symphonic aspiration, compelled me to give this the proper Rogue treatment. The core of Claudio Bonvecchio on bass and vocals, along with keyboardist supremo Stefano Gasparetti have brought in a new fresh crew, namely drum master Cristiano Conte, guitarist Gabriele Girardi, and more importantly a male /female duo of terrific vocalists in Matteo Lorenzi and Catia Borgogno. This is a colossal offering that will surely delight the discriminating Italian prog fan, looking for a comfortable setting and perhaps a slightly different take at the same time. Featuring five longish musical essays to mull over is always a hopeful signs of inevitable pleasure, with each track developing its own character and substance.

Catia initiates the dual vocal with Mateo operating right under her scintillating vocal, a sublime piano weaving an intricate and spellbinding melody, churlish organ and strings penetrating the nearly medieval arrangement, until a rough guitar and rhythm section assaults the senses only to teeter back and forth between speed and serenity. There is a symphonic hint of Gentle Giant, in that the sonic evolution constantly incorporates hypnotic twists, Matteo doing a fine variation on Derek Shulman's dance with violins and cello. This 10-minute epic also infuses some narration before returning to Catia's echoing lament, channeling darker confines before screeching vertiginously into a wild assemblage of conflicting sounds and opposing emotions, waiting for the solitary piano to tuck you in for the night.

A completely altered soundscape is exhibited on the ultra-cool and jazzy shuffle of "Canto Per Lucy", an immutable bass groove that stops and starts as if dealing with congested traffic, sprinkled with glittering piano passages that flow like the Tyrolian Mountain rivers. The softer auditory realms are markedly attractive and evocative of countless imaginary visions, hints of old school Genesis in the keyboard/guitar interplay and an all-around laid-back delivery, highly confident and relaxed, a truly inspiring number.

The ornate piano rules once again on the classical tinged intro of "L'Empio Simulacro", before choir mellotron throws all caution to the wind, and maximum acceleration is locked into gear for another extended roller-coaster prog rock ride. The alternating male/female vocals give each singer the spotlight to show off their skills, constantly disrupted by unexpected variants that may include oddly muted sound effects that induce a sense of dark tension and explicit drama. The strings do a danse macabre with the eccentric syncopation, enhancing hints of a vaporous image of a "Glass House" and still colliding with pristine piano chords, this is quite the aural labyrinth. The ensuing and extended organ solo is priceless and bloody amazing!

Then comes the marathon 23-minute mastodont that stamps this album with various waxed seals of excellence, a cornucopia of meshed intersections slicing across the focal core of the story, overloaded with a surfeit of dramaturgical pyrotechnics, verging on a progressive opera of the highest order. Flush with offbeat time signatures, turn-on-a-dime ricochets, screwing guitar drills, and enough robust rhythmic exuberance to thrill the most percussive of fans. Half-way through, the atmosphere enters pastoral realms not far from the bucolic sections of Anthony Phillips' classic works, such as the celebrated masterpiece "Slowdance", then moving into another phase of female voice-led exploration, accentuated by some stunning lead guitar exertions from Girard as well as Gasparetti's redolent mellotron efforts. Yet, all this apparent mayhem seems totally targeted with intelligent purpose and it works subito presto! Multiple auditions only increase the level of genius displayed here, truly mind- boggling! A fine companion to PFM's classic "Promenade the Puzzle"

"La Radiante Foresta" completes the program with one final onslaught on the senses, though a softer climate was deemed necessary in order to calm down the pulsating heartbeat and return to some semblance of sanity and equilibrium. Once again, the cello and strings play a large role, augmented by cascades of acoustic guitars clanging in harmony, Matteo fluid voice navigating the gentle winds emanating from his lungs as the ever-growing arrangement swells into a paroxysm of celestial voices and sounds that can only cure all the ills of a weary and abused brain.

This is a stellar slice of RPI, a must discovery for those seeking to broaden their horizons and fall under the spell of musicians who cherish their traditions and seek to develop them ever further. On par with Celeste's latest offering as well as Barock Project's "Time Voyager", the crafty Italians never fail to show up, year after year, with quality progressive rock releases. Forza Italia!

5 Norse deities