Teodicea is a project born from an idea of Enrico Filippi, keyboard player of the band Aliante. This Italian trio offers Progressive Rock sounds with a classic line-up of keyboard-bass-drums. The debut album “Il Mondo Esausto” is due for release on September 23, 2024 via M.P. & Records and contains 9 medium-length tracks. A synth intro opens “777” and immediately plunges us into the sound of the band, which offers a granitic Progressive Rock, with keyboards in evidence. The rhythm section is solid, elaborate and rich in tempo changes, with an excellent malgam between bass and drumming. Rich instrumental coppers take us right from this opener back to the golden age of Symphonic Prog music, with that Italian touch that characterised the bands of the early 70s in our country. Solo organ textures take the sound to a very, very high level. Playing with the words of the title (the references to a song by Area I do not think are coincidental), “Gioia e Risoluzione” opens with dreamy piano atmospheres and a soft, elaborate rhythm section. In a continuous musical crescendo, the track increases in intensity as the minutes go by, alternating between Symphonic openings and fine, refined solo interventions that bring classical atmospheres into a fresh, modern context. The trio’s compositional and performing technique is enhanced through the more than 6 minutes of pure Progressive Rock. Of particular note is the great bass work as well as the keyboards, and the elaborate and constantly evolving drumming. “L’Ineluttabile” opens with march-style drumming, a deep bass line and synth melodies over a mellotron background. All the ingredients are there to develop a Prog track and the band in fact evolves the central theme of the song into a continuous musical crescendo that is enriched with more intricate passages in the middle section. Keyboards take centre stage, with long solo textures alternating with fine synth work, tracks like these make us close our eyes and dream. Melancholic atmospheres characterise the piano melodies of “Weltschmerz,” a deep and pathos-laden track. Incorporating symphonic elements and with the piano very much in evidence, the track flows nicely, showing another facet of the band’s sound, deeper but still very inspired. A mellotron background opens “Ripresa di Coscienza,” continuing to explore dense, melancholic sounds and atmospheres. The bass is deep and gives body to the sound, doing a good job with the drumming in the rhythm section. With a change in the middle section, the track transforms and explores more airy sounds, with fine solos and keyboard interlacing accompanying us to the finale. “Intro 442” features a deep bass line that intertwines with the keyboards to create enveloping, hypnotic melodies. In the middle part, the intensity increases in a musical crescendo, before returning to the initial theme in the finale, concluding this track more symphonic and experimental at the same time. The first part of “Lofoten” is also characterised by interweaving bass and keyboards only, and then in the middle part incorporates drumming and evolving melodies. in crescendo. A shorter track, but one that for three minutes gives us refined ideas and phrasing full of pathos. The shortest track in duration “Punto di Fusione,” is an interesting blend of Heavy Prog and Jazzy openings, enhancing all the band’s latecnique. A track that is short but very intense, a concentrate of energy, technique and with a Symphonic synth opening in the middle part. Very interesting combination of different genres and styles. The album ends with “Il Viaggio del Moro,” which opens with passages of classic Progressive Rock and then explores the different facets of the band’s sound in its more than six-minute duration. More technical passages and Symphonic openings are interwoven with heavier ones, with a solo synth insert that accompanies us to the finale. Records like this show that progressive sounds are more alive than ever, a trio that succeeds in bringing classic atmospheres back into a modern context with personal traits. The tracklist is intense and full of ideas from beginning to end, bringing out all the compsotive and exucutive technique of the trio. A recommended listen for lovers of peogressive instrumental sounds with fine keyboard work and solid, elaborate rhythm sections. A high-level debut album.
Tracklist
01. 777 (5:35)
02. Gioia e Risoluzione (6:33)
03. L’Ineluttabile (5:43)
04. Weltschmerz (5:44)
05. Ripresa di Coscienza (4:42)
06. Intro 442 (4:42)
07. Lofoten (3:38)
08. Punto di Fusione (3:18)
09. Il Viaggio del Moro (6:32)
Lineup
Enrico Filippi (Aliante) / Keyboards
Giacomo Putrino / Drums and Percussions
Jacopo Morandi / Bass
