'Melting Clock' is an Italian progressive rock band that released their first album 'Destinazioni' and I discovered them with this second opus 'Altrove' which was released a little over a month ago. On the menu, we have at our disposal six compositions with a duration ranging from 6 to 9 minutes, if we count only one title for the eponymous composition of the album which is in two parts. At first listen, I found myself in a familiar progressive universe and in atmospheres reminding me of the first 'Renaissance', 'Emanuela Vedana' evolving in a high register and the instrumental arrangements approaching the band of 'Annie Haslam'.
From the start, 'Vernice', which is a stroll through the streets of Genoa, makes us discover the melodious singing of Emanuela Vedana' in a first composition that begins in a mixture of very pleasant oriental and western sounds and which continues with instrumental accompaniments of piano making me think of 'Renaissance' and strings bringing a symphonic side to the whole. The title song follows with a first part stripped down keyboards/voices in which 'Emanuela Vedana' brings a beautiful softness and on which the piano adds some magnificent classical notes filled with melancholy. The second part is instrumental and shows all the talent of each artist who brings their stone to the building, the 'Amadei' siblings bringing a very particular softness in the piano/guitar parts, 'Simone Caffè' offering us a magnificent guitar solo and the rhythm section coming to support in a very subtle way the whole, without forgetting the beautiful vocals (which I would have liked longer) of 'Emanuela Vedana'.
'Il mondo al suo risveglio' begins in a more energetic way but returns very quickly to a more moderate atmosphere with, again, 'Emanuela Vedana' who lights up this title with her melodious singing and it is in this kind of composition that she reminds me of 'Annie Haslam', especially since the light atmosphere is also quite close to 'Renaissance'. Also note the very beautiful instrumental passage at the beginning of the second part which alternates a more spirited first section with a much calmer part with a beautiful succession of accompaniment of acoustic and electric guitars. Follows 'Città spenta' which takes us on a magnificent musical journey with catchy melodic lines and beautiful rhythmic variations and intensities throughout the title which brings a good dose of progressive.
The last two titles, longer, also bring more pronounced progressive components with, first of all, 'Tramonte di Cenere' which alternates in a beautiful way sung and instrumental parts, the latter requiring to linger to draw all the richness but which, in the end, shows all the talent of 'Melting Clock' in richer and denser pieces. And it is with 'Endurance' which is the longest title and which is a tribute to the navigator 'Ernest Shackleton' that the album ends on a succession of changes of theme which fit into each other which makes it, for my part, the flagship title of the album, especially since it benefits from melodic lines that we tame quite quickly and that the finale offers a superb 'Gilmourian' guitar solo.
In summary, the Italians of 'Melting Clock', led by a talented singer, release a magnificent progressive rock album which confirms all the good they had aroused with their first opus 'Destinazioni', and 'Altrove' should be among the best releases of 2024 and seduce all lovers of delicate and refined progressive... | |
