After the last two very good albums 'Detachment' and 'Seven Seas' released in 2017 and 2019 respectively, it took 5 years for the Italians 'Barock Project' to release a new album with 'Time Voyager'. It was worth the wait because, despite all the remarkable progressive recordings released already this year, I believe he will be able to claim one of the best albums of 2024 in this style. And to present this opus, I will quote what the Italians shared on their website: "'Time Voyager' is a journey through the folds of time. Songs are like doors that swing open into unknown dimensions, traveling through the darkness of the past and the uncertainty of the future. In this new record, time is not just a straight line, but an intricate labyrinth of endless possibilities". For my part, it is a very good introduction to this new Italian baby and I would add that, musically, these doors that they open bring back to our memory numerous references to progressive artists through time: I found myself a few decades back with names like 'Jethro Tull', 'Kansas', 'Emerson, Lake & Palmer', 'Queen', 'Yes' or even 'Genesis' and so on because the influences are truly multiple and mixed throughout the album and even within the compositions.
On the menu of this opus, 12 tracks for more than 70 minutes of listening, minutes which pass at breakneck speed because everything has been done to capture the listener who likes a diversified progressive with multiple influences. Going through all the titles to dissect them would require a paragraph for each and it is for this reason that I will only touch on them by citing only one or two points that struck me because, the best thing is to let you discover them making your mouth water. To begin with, the first sung part of 'Carry On' could have been included in the best 'Jethro Tull', then, in 'Summer Set Your Free', I love this jumping instrumental passage in the second part of the title with twirling keyboards like a 'Keith Emerson'. 'An Ordinary Day's Odyssey' which follows, highlights this fabulous singer that is 'Alex Mari', taking this title of master voice (he is also the singer of the Italian formation of AOR', 'Night Pleasure Hotel' who have just released their first album 'Portraits' a few weeks ago), then, 'The Lost Ship Tavern' is a fabulous track which transports you to the sounds of twirling violins in a joyful sarabande. What I love about this kind of album is these breaks between two compositions because, after the addictive melody of the previous track, 'Voyager' begins with dark layers of keyboards reminiscent of the classic romantic period, then opening the door towards a cinematographic atmosphere that 'Vangelis' would not have denied with his albums which take us into space ('Rosetta' and 'Juno to Jupiter') and this composition continues with numerous changes of atmosphere, notably this passage around 4.40 which takes us on an exotic journey with sounds oriental. Follows 'Morning Train' in which I savor the 'Queenesque' symphonic instrumental section in the middle of the title and which develops numerous variations of rhythm and intensity, then, what can I say about this jazzy introduction with this saxophone with contemporary sounds which touches us delicately the senses and then continuing on a hellish groove brought by the bass of 'Francesco Caliendo'. Little melancholy moment with the beautiful ballad 'Shibuya 3 A.M.' which takes us to one of the liveliest districts of 'Tokyo', then, 'Lonely Girl' has a more 'Yessian' face with its very original jumping rhythm section which drives this beautiful title contributing largely to this radiant and light atmosphere. We are now at the edge of the Mediterranean which can be very calm but also more agitated which makes it a beautiful progressive composition, then, 'Kyanite Jewel' is a melodic "jewel" which is completely in tune with the virtues of kyanite which will help you fight against stress and anxiety and which shows that the drummer 'Eric Ombelli' also has other talents, as a guitarist and a singer, making me think in certain places of the delicacy of 'Damian Wilson'. To end this very beautiful album, 'Voyager's Homecoming' takes us into a final progressive composition which sums up the whole thing well with a long instrumental introduction which takes us into a musical labyrinth as I like them and which then gives off a radiant optimism.
In summary, the Italians of 'Barock Project' have succeeded in this feat of putting together a sample of multiple influences which take us on a very beautiful musical journey of progressive rock, and 'Time Voyager', even if its heterogeneity requires you to linger there to fully absorb the richness of each composition, which will perhaps limit it to a limited audience (and that's a shame!), could very well become an album that will be cited in a few years as a progressive rock reference... | |
