NOI AL DIR DI NOI

Thomas(tszirmay) I can't message you or anyone on the site here or even comment in the forum which sucks but for some reason I can still do reviews. I'll delete this opening monologue in a day or so but everytime I try to post I get an "error 400 bad request header too long". Your Wilderness review was incredible Thomas, had me in tears.

PROMENADE are a young band out of Italy and this is their debut from 2016. The music is quite complex and RYM even has an Avant tag attached to it plus there's some jazz excursions but mostly I'd say this is challenging music that will keep even the most seasoned progger occupied throughout. The vocals aren't my style, kind of light but there's nothing wrong with them at all. For me it's the enjoyment factor that hits home when I rate albums and this is a record that I actually spun once in December but put it aside not really enjoying it. Now that I've spun this many, many times my opinion still hasn't changed but I do know the album quite well now. They are a four piece band with sax, it's often smooth sax though which I don't like. There are several guests adding strings mostly but also flute and bassoon.

"Athletics" sees the band making a statement right off the hop. An instrumental of musical athletics that blows me away. How can all these sounds seem to be mashed together yet make sense? I like when we get a scream around 2 1/2 minutes, the enthusiasm, and later to end it as we get an approving vocal outburst about what they just did. It's really cool how this song unfolds and changes throughout but man can they play. Quite the opening statement.

"Il Secondo" is mellow with guitar melodies as the vocals join in almost speaking, lots of atmosphere too. He then starts singing around a minute in. It comes almost to a stop 3 minutes in then the sounds slowly build. Some smooth sax too along with some excellent drum work as the vocals return. The vocals are the focus until after 5 1/2 minutes when the smooth sax returns. I want dissonant sax! "L'albero Magico" is light with percussion and intricate sounds. The drums and vocals join in and the bass sounds very upfront which is good. The electric piano is better though after 3 minutes.

"Roccoco" opens with harpsichord? Run! What follows is this happy romp into traditional sounding Italian music which I don't like but thankfully we get another change. Then it all comes to a stop almost as samples of farm animals and more take over. Then this mash of sounds arrive meshing together, vocals follow. I really like the guitar and strings around 3 1/2 minutes. "Kernal" is led by the vocals but as usual we get a lot of complexity and interplay with so much going on. Fast paced vocals before 2 minutes but they will step aside as the piano, drums, guitar and more lead the way as it becomes fuller sounding to the end.

"Pantera" has these light vocals and sound but there's lots going on as usual. I really have trouble enjoying this despite it being very proggy. A calm as the vocals stop before 4 1/2 minutes and some jazzy bass arrives. The vocals are back followed by a laid back guitar solo. "Crisantemo" opens with a match being lit, spark it up! Dramatic piano melodies kick in along with more depth. It turns even fuller before 1 1/2 minutes followed by a change. A horn joins in but soon it's piano only after 2 1/2 minutes then strings and fragile vocals join in. I'm not into this but then he starts to sing and the sound turns brighter. A nice relaxed guitar solo before 6 minutes before we get this mellow conclusion to this song and album.

For some strange reason I kept thinking of the music Dan Britton does and how complex it is with avant flourishes. Like the music here it's often a tough listen but the appreciation level is high. Many have this high on their "Album of the Year" lists for 2016, and I wish I could be another person praising this album to no end, but clearly this just isn't my thing.