RISVEGLIO

One of the newer Italian prog bands to cause many to take notice in the 21st century, the Venice based EGONON remains a bit mysterious without revealing much of its history or even its future plans. While the band debuted in 2011 with its first album RISVEGLIO which was supposedly part of a greater quadrilogy of albums, EGONON seems to have disappeared as quickly as it emerged from Italy's premiere canal city. The band has been praised for following the traditions of classic 70s Italian prog while giving the style a much needed upgrade. As most modern day symphonic prog bands from Italy choose to play the retro card and simply pay tribute to past glories rather than innovating in any radical way, EGONON delivered the goods with a creative mix of Italian and non-homeland influences. Lyrics are all presented in the Italian language.

The band's name is Latin for "I NOT" while the title RISVEGLIO means "Awakening," so does that mean that the band is not returning and falling into a slumber after this album's release? Does it have a greater meaning? Or is it just random syllabic splendor that sounds good with no particular meaning? Well, whatever the case EGONON delivered an interesting slice of modern Italian prog with RISVEGLIO that mixes the classic Italian prog sounds of yore with modern alternative metal, North African ethnic music, various styles of jazz, gypsy swing and even moments of klezmer. The band includes Fabio Calo' (songwriter, lyricist, vocals, piano, guitars, oud, sitar, sarangi, mellotron, percussion), Roberto Parolin (drums), Andrea Ghion (bass), David Boato (trumpet, flugelhorn), Luigi Sella (sax, clarinet) andAlvise Stiffoni (cello) as well as several guest musicians and vocalists.

The amount of instrumentation is impressive given that despite the breadth of influences and sounds emerging on RISVEGLIO that it somehow retains the proper connective tissue to make a cohesive listening experience from beginning to end with the melodic constructs providing the main fabric that ties everything together. The album was recorded in both Italy and Libya and features Middle Eastern instruments as well as North African vocal moments which gives this album a unique Italo-Arab hybridization which would put the band closer to the world of classic Area rather than PFM or Banco. The alternative rock and metal heft accompanied by jazzy saxophone accompaniments give this band a totally distinct and unique sound that is unparalleled not only in the Italian prog scene but the world of melodic prog altogether.

EGONON certainly mastered all the aspects of great progressive rock which includes vibrant use of dynamics, an assaulting array of tones and timbres from a varied arsenal of instrumentation and the ability to deliver crazy time signature deviations and abrupt hairpin turns of continuity in the midst of maintaining an overall melodic flow. Add to that the seamless fusion of Italian prog and Middle Eastern musical scales and rhythms and you have a bonafide brilliance at hand. During the more metal moments i actually can detect a System of a Down influence which adds an entirely additional element to the soiree of musical genres dancing like the stars. And also the band really knows how to change tempo from soft romantic pastoral moments to swinging jazzy escapades, guitar stomping metal energetic diversions to the dominant Arabic musical flavors that are the most prevalent non-Italian contributions to the overall scheme of things.

The tight-knit instrumental interplay is really creative in how it meanders from one genre dominated motif to the other with the various influences trading off in its dominant presence. The production is excellent with moments reminding me a bit of Porcupine Tree with its rich mixing job which adds a nice modern touch. Overall this is a beauty of a beast and one that is unexpected in the Italian prog scene but a welcome display of creative mojo beyond the usual adherence to tradition of PFM, Banco and Le Orme worship. It's a mystery as to why the band dropped the ball on releasing its planned quadrilogy that was supposed to create an overall theme. Perhaps the band will release an album every 20 years or perhaps they played a Mr Doctor of Devil Doll Fame and record their albums and not release them to the public. Whatever the case brilliant sole album here! Perhaps it's a bit long and i'm sure it'll be too busy for many but i dig it. Hopefully a sophomore album will emerge from the Venetian canals!