Mad Fellaz is an Italian progressive Rock band born in 2010, which has released 4 full-lengths. The new album “Road To Planet Circus” released on February 1, 2022 via PickUp Records. Contents 11 medium-length tracks that confirm the good heard in previous releases, evolving the sound with Jazz Rock, Funk and Afro facets. The opener “The Animal Spell” which opens with fine interweaving between guitar, flute and keyboards with positive sounds to which is added a solid rhythmic session. The vocal is warm and expressive and the track flows pleasantly with the intensity increasing in the crescendo ending. “Free As A Dog” is a track with exotic influences, cheerful and rhythmic, enriched by tempo changes and a pleasant instrumental section in the central part. It follows “Jokepot” which we had the pleasure of listening to as a single that anticipated the album, characterized by a Funky bass line. An energetic and elaborate track that blends a dynamic vocal with a sound halfway between funky and Rock, original and engaging. In the second part it evolves and is enriched by tempo changes and instrumental textures of exquisite workmanship. With a prominent vocal opens “Sips Of Confidence” developed on continuous and accelerated tempo changes, which make the piece energetic. The textures are elaborate, with the drum offering solo inserts, while the structure features Fusion traits and a technical and high-level sound. “Rise And Shine” is a softer passage, with softer percussion and melodies from guitar and keyboard. The intensity increases with the passing of the minutes, developed with a long instrumental to which the vocal is inserted only in choral form, showing the technique of the artists involved. Another piece with a complex and constantly evolving structure “Tuareg’s Dance” is mainly instrumental, with wind inserts and solos of fine workmanship. Here too the track ends in crescendo with the addition of the vocal, very intense and well developed. With marked Afro references “Exodus” takes us with our minds to distant countries, where percussion is the basis of the rthymic session. The vocal is warm and an added value for the sound, which features highly sought-after sounds that blend multiple genres and styles with the personal touch of Mad Fellaz. “Candy Store” is another winning mix of Rock with Funky and Acid Jazz, with massive guitar riffs intertwining with the winds and the rhythm session enriched by tempo changes. The keyboards offer an excellent solo followed by that of flute and drum, enhancing the technical characteristics of the artists involved. This is a very high level song, certainly one of the best passages on the album in my humble opinion. Intricate and frenetic plots open “Babylon” a complex and elaborate passage with a killer bass line and orchestral inserts that show the more Prog side that blends with Fusion and Funky. The vocal is dynamic and interprets the various phases of the piece well, in which the tempo changes and the mixes between guitar and feel are an added value, as well as the solo sections. The shortest track of the album “Rise Again” is a passage of both male and female layered voices, very original and engaging. The album closes with the longest track “Tennouheika No Sakura” with over 6 minutes of duration, closer to the Prog sounds of the previous works. A Prog Symphonico track of exquisite workmanship, which contains everything that a listener looks for in a piece of this genre. Excellent as the end of a good album. A band skilled in knowing how to evolve their sound by inserting new nuances with references of Jazz, Funky and Afro while maintaining their personal character. Very intense from start to finish this album contains 11 well composed and performed tracks that highlight the technique of the band. The vocals are warm and expressive, dynamic and best suited to the tracks and passages of the record. A listening recommended to all lovers of the most sought after sounds of Prog, with incursions and fusion of other genres, managing to keep the level very high.
Tracklist
01. The Animal Spell (04:29)
02. Free As A Dog (03:59)
03. Jokepot (05:10)
04. Sips Of Confidence (04:18)
05. Rise And Shine (04:12)
06. Tuareg’s Dance (04:53)
07. Exodus (04:54)
08. Candy Store (05:33)
09. Babylon (03:14)
10. Rise Again (02:19)
11. Tennouheika No Sakura (06:09)
Lineup
Paolo Busatto / Guitars
Carlo Passuello / Bass
Enrico Brunelli / Keyboards and Synthesizer
Rudy Zilio / Flute, Clarinet, Synthesizer
Luca Brighi / Lead and Backing Vocals
Ruggero Burigo / Guitars
Andrea Cecchetto / Drums and Percussion
With:
Davide Baratto / Guitars and Backing Vocals
Fabio Trentini / Backing Vocals
Evridika Cuder / Backing Vocals
Giovanni Forestan / Saxophone
Giancarlo Romani / Trumpet
Marcello Sambataro / Additional Keyboards
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