'Swappers Eleven' is the project of three artists who in 2011 won the final of the annual competition organized by the English 'Marillion' which consists of involving on stage musician fans for accompany them, in this case at the time, keyboardist 'Luiz Alvim', singer 'Alessandro Carmassi' and bassist 'Gary Foalle' and 2020 sees the release of their first studio recording 'From a Distance' which, I must say, for a debut album is to 'exceptional quality and takes us into a searched and sophisticated progressive rock with the icing on the cake, the idea of inviting other artists who have themselves participated in the 'Marillion' competition and integrating them into this first opus which enriches it even more.
These are 8 tracks with 2 long developments of more than 13 minutes each available to us and we start with 'Swappers Eleven' of a little over 5 minutes but which already offers an inventive progressive with three parts nested : we jump from a relatively refined introduction to a powerful section in which the keyboards are put forward, the vocals of 'Alessandro Carmassi' fitting in beautifully in this atmosphere, then to a magnificent final, in a slower tempo with a magnificent guitar solo and a last part sung in decrescendo. Then follows 'Tomorrow', more classic with two remarkable successive solos, first of saxophone and then of guitar, then the long development 'Distance' takes us on a progressive gem, with first an atmospheric introduction and the title takes off after 2 minutes by increasing the tempo for a sung part in which the bass ensures the rhythm section until a break with some piano notes which ensures the junction with the next part, starting with sounds of keyboards clsoe to 'BJH' and with a very nice interaction between drums and saxophone and which becomes more catchy at the end with remarkable keyboard solos which alternate with guitar solos which prepares a final with a heady melody which never leaves you. Follows 'Spectrum' with 'Michelle Aragon' on vocals (is this the same singer who participates in the 'Mystic Euphoria' symphonic metal project ?) But also 'Ian Humphrey', which makes it a very nice trio with 'Alessandro Carmassi' in a composition with a slow tempo and a rather calm atmosphere and with some more muscular instrumental passages, then the short 'New Year's Resolution', more classic, places once more 'Michelle Aragon' in the spotlight, but this time in lead vocals The second long development 'Open Your Eyes' is built in several parts which are juxtaposed with a more prominent place given to vocals and with a new duet in the central part, this time with 'Alessandro Carmassi' and 'Ian Humphrey', the only part instrumental being placed at the end of the title with the duo joining on the final. The album ends, first of all with the short 'First Time', with once again 'Michelle Aragon' but this time without 'Alessandro Carmassi' in a beautiful uncluttered piano/voice ballad in which she certainly recorded the two voices, then, without transition 'Hope Is a Stranger' takes over for the most energetic track of the album with incisive guitar riffs and with a melody that is not necessarily immediate on first listen and finally with a beautiful solo keyboards past half the title and which mellows to prepare a remarkable final with a magnificent 'Floydian' guitar solo.
In summary, this new project 'Swappers Eleven' is a very good surprise 2020 and we will certainly have to rely on this band in the future if they continue in this direction; 'From a Distance' is recommended for audiences who like major progressive rock groups like 'Marillion', 'Pendragon', or 'Arena'... | |
