CORPORESANO

I had to laugh when I noticed these dates: "album released March 2019, band disbanded May 2019." Yepper, that sounds about right. Corporesano joins the ranks of so many other Italian projects in the "one and done" category, releasing their self-titled expression of beauty to the world only to then vanish into the ether. They have ascribed to this work a desire to bring joy and positivity to the world. Of course, we'll take them at their word; from the music to the inspired fantastical cover art, it would seem they were on the right track to doing just that. The songs of Corporesano rise from the garden of so many old school Italian symphonic bands of yesteryear. This is textbook romantic-sounding Italian symph---beautiful, pastoral, romantic, choose your own adjective---and this lovely music will please any fan of "pretty" prog rock. Rather than being truly '70s inspired though, there is just as much neo-prog informing the sound in both keyboard sound choices and the tendency to play safe versus taking risk.

Listening to Corporesano is the chance to let your mind wander and drift off to a sound that will never jar you or disturb you. The speed of the songs is nearly constant and slow, the template consistent, the verses leading to the payoff electric guitar solo, very melodic, over a surrounding atmosphere that is the aural equivalent of the beautiful skyline colors shown in the background of their cover art. They take you there as efficiently as any band ever has, and, if you dig it, this album could end up on your "favorites" shelf. So, why the long face, Jim? Well, every positive attribute I just laid out for you is also, ironically, the same criticism that many an RPI fan will have with this album. If you need your music to be adventurous or take risks---even occasionally, even a little bit---to provide some contrasting mood or excitement, you'll need to look elsewhere. That's why I would describe this as a kind of lovely daydream, like a perfect nap that delivered a really good dream. It's nice, but for adventurous listeners, I doubt that's enough.

As I listen to each song culminate in that rich, emotional guitar solo, it makes me think of David Gilmour having to kick his pedal and launch that "Comfortably Numb" solo again, night after night, hundreds and hundreds of times over decades. Does he ever tire of it? It would seem that we fans do not, given the obscene prices we'll pay to witness it, and so perhaps my point is a mute one. And I'm being playful now, but this album sometimes feels like an hour-long performance of "Comfortably Numb" with Italian vocals, the same pacing and vibe. Now, if that's your favorite Floyd song or you happen to dig the "pretty" prog in general, this album could be a home run for you. For me, it's very well done but ultimately not that interesting or memorable. Compared to some of the truly exciting modern stuff I've recently reviewed (such as Altare Thotemico's Selfie Ergo Sum), Corporesano is just a pleasant but underwhelming stroll in the park. At the same time, it's not bad by any means, and I feel it still merits three stars.