NUOVA ERA - IL PASSO DEL SOLDATO - 1995

Hold on to your hats kids... we are going on a walk on the wild side! NUOVA ERA are Italy's answer to ANEKDOTEN. NUOVA ERA deliver heavy prog designed to make you sweat as you listen. This is 90's prog but heavily rooted in the classic 70's era. NUOVA ERA are great musicians and this is very fast and complex moving music. Songs are well constructed and have a great degree of feeling.

This is a TRUE MASTERPIECE prog album! Powerful songwriting and tight composition. The music is very complex but it produces excellent melody and harmony reminiscent of 70s prog music. Yes, the band is really SUCCESSFUL in bringing the 70s prog music alive in 90s! They really produce the sound and souls of 70s music. Their masterpiece is not only on their music but also in the creation of "nuances". Oh my God . this album is really WONDERFUL! Two thumbs UP!

The musical structure of this album is in the vein of Early GENESIS (less Hackett; there is no guitar used in this album) with some passages reminiscing Early KING CRIMSON and ELP. Keyboards dominate almost all tracks - supported by dynamic bass line and drumming. Music-wise this is actually a three-piece band - Walter Pini (keyboards), Enrico Giordani (bass) and Gianluca Lavacchi (drums) plus a lead singer who does not play instrument: Claudio Guerrini and a lyricist: Ivan Pini (words ) who does not play. Ehm . it reminds me to Early King Crimson where Pete Sinfields played a role as lyricist as well.

The more I spin this album, my appreciation grows steadily. All tracks in this album were composed beautifully. SUPERB! Oh by the way, you will hear so many passages where the keyboard plays dual sounds each separated clearly in right and left channel of your stereo set.

"All'ombra di un Conflicto" intro reminds me to Genesis "The Battle of Epping Forest" especially on the way drum stools are played. Punchy keyboard sound reminds me to the style of Keith Emerson. I like the part where the voice line starts to enter the music. Excellent composition. Quality of vocal and backing vocals are excellent and I like the Italian lyrics (even though I don't understand at all. IMHO, Italian language is best for prog music). The double keyboard sounds at the interlude of this track is really superb!

"Lo Spettro dell'Agonia sul Campo" starts with dual keyboard sound: organ at left channel and keyboard melody at right. It's an excellent opening. Some passages of this song reminds me to "The Knife Edge" of ELP. This track is purely in the vein of ELP. Great melody, harmony and composition. The lead singer demonstrates his powerful vocal through high tone voice. Amazing voice! The interlude part with solo keyboard is really stunning! "La Parata dei Simboli" is a short song with a catchy piano touch and keyboard work. The keyboard sound reminds me to the work of ALFONSO VIDALES of CAST (Mexico). It's a melodic instrumental song.

The classic-influence piano work at the opening of "Il Passo del Soldato" is really excellent. This is the longest track in the album. The lead singer voice has now changed into more theatrical way and sometime in operatic style. A great track with frequent tempo changes through smooth and catchy transition pieces in symphonic mood. The solo synthesizer throughout this track is wonderful.

For my personal taste, all tracks in this album are excellent! It's really hard for me to identify any shortcoming of this album. You will be amazed by this album especially if you observe how stunning the keyboard / organ is. It's a flawless album! Powerful songwriting, tight composition, great musicianship and flawless performance. Perfect!
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