It is always a pleasure to receive correspondence from Finalndia, especially if it is new work related to The Samurai Of Prog‘s various projects. The new album in collaboration with Marco Grieco, entitled “A Quiet Town” was released in early 2024 via Seacrest Oy and contains 10 tracks. As always, the excellent cover artwork by Ed Unitsky and a detailed booklet complete the work in which several international artists from the Progressive Rock scene collaborate. The album opens with harmonica and acoustic guitar, resulting in “Smile Forever,” a track that immediately immerses us in the album’s sounds. The intertwining of the numerous instruments and the solid, elaborate rhythm section allow the compositional and performing technique of the artists involved to shine through. The vocals are dynamic and expressive, interpreting the lyrics with pathos and alternating perfectly with the instrumental sections. Very interesting are the tempo changes and inserts of keyboards, guitar, woodwinds and violin that take the sound to another level. A fine interweaving of electric guitar, violin and flute opens “The Crime,” which presents more dark sounds with solo interventions of the various instruments of absolute value. The track evolves, opening up and incorporating more Heavy elements, creating a pompous and majestic sound, at times airy, in pure Progressive style. The second part, thanks to the tempo changes, offers a markedly retro music cue with the horns in evidence and then concludes in a musical crescendo with an emotional guitar solo. A softer, deeper track could not be missing and here is “The Priest,” loaded with pathos, combining Prog with an intense vocal and a heavy dose of Symphonyc. Flute and acoustic guitar dialogue in a pastoral instrumental section, then increase the intensity and return to classic Progressive Rock sounds. A masterfully composed and performed track, with a Swing passage before returning to the central theme of the song and concluding with passion in the last vocal stanzas and a short choral solo of various instruments. We return to more energetic sounds with “The Businessman” where the violin stands out in the intro, while the lyrics introduce us to another character from this “quiet town.” The rhythm section is solid and elaborate, offering continuous tempo changes that evolve the theme of the song and allow the instruments to blend into unique harmonious melodies. The vocals are intense and expressive as are the instrumental parts, which once again display all the talents of the artists involved. A choral intro intro introduces us to the character and the next track “The Mayor.” A succession of warm and expressive vocal parts and intense instrumental sections with cues that keep the listener attentive to the band’s developments. A mixture of retro and modern sounds that create the right meeting point between classic and innovation, in the style of bands such as YES but with a Samurai Of Prog twist. “The Doctor” incorporates elements of different genres and styles, while maintaining a marked Progressive component within it. Keyboards and guitar take centre stage, offering elaborate and technical yet accessible textures for the listener. Pompous to the right degree, with melodies and solo inserts to move fans, while the vocals are dynamic and adapt to the different style changes. Like the doctor cures his patients, this track and this music cures our desire for Progressive. The album’s shortest track “Dance of Clues” offers three minutes of piano composed and performed at the highest level. In the best Prog tradition, an epic suite could not be missing from the album, and here the band offers “The Solution (Part I)“. This first part that exceeds 11 minutes is the longest track on the disc and incorporates all the elements that characterise the band’s sound. A succession of instrumental sections and intense vocal parts, Prog in its purest essence. This is followed by “The Solution (Part II),” which evolves the theme of this epic with refined keyboard and guitar interlacing. The vocal parts are always very intense and perfectly follow the evolution of the song and its continuous tempo changes. The refinement of the composition and the performing technique are a hallmark of the band that I often emphasise and which is expressed here at the highest level. Tracks like these are good for the music and the listeners. The typewriter intertwining with the horns gives an idea of the genius behind the compositions on this record, opening “The Report.” It is the album’s closing track, and for over four minutes it takes us towards the end of the disc with a sound that is rich in cues and at times virtuosic. I’ll be honest: when I finished listening, I hit the play button and listened to the record again, and with each listen, refined and delightful details come through. I love this project and all its variations and versions as they always manage to create invaluable albums for Progressive music lovers. Another masterpiece that fits into the already rich discography of this band, certainly among the best in the modern world music scene. Lovers of both classic and modern Progressive sounds will find in this album 10 exciting tracks to listen to and re-listen to at maximum volume.
Tracklist
01. Smile Forever (7:45)
02. The Crime (5:41)
03. The Priest (6:56)
04. The Businessman (7:47)
05. The Mayor (6:08)
06. The Doctor (7:17)
07. Dance of Clues (3:04)
08. The Solution (Part I) (11:56)
09. The Solution (Part II) (7:12)
10. The Report (4:48)
Lineup
Marco Bernard / Shuker Basses
Marco Grieco / Keyboards, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Harmonica, Backing Vocals
Kimmo Pörsti / Drums & Percussion
With:
Ron Alonso / Vocals
Peakfiddler / Fiddle
Luke Shingler / Flute
Juhani Nisula / Electric Guitars
Steve Unruh / Vocals, Violin, Flute
Olli Jaakkola / Flute
Ben Craven / Vocals, Lead Electric Guitar
Tony Riveryman (aka Toni Jokinen) / Electric Guitars
Ivan Santovito / Lead & Backing Vocals
Marco Vincini / Vocals
Michael Trew / Lead & Backing Vocals
Andy Nixon / Lead & Backing Vocals
Linus Kåse / Alto Saxophone
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