During my preparations for this review I noticed that Fabio Gremo is a member of the Italian prog formation Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, and that this is his second solo album.I found more information on his excellent webiste. “I was born in Genoa (Italy) on June 28th 1976, I began playing classical guitar when I was in middle school, then I got a degree at the Conservatoire in Alessandria under the guidance of M° Angelo Gilardino. Furthermore I attended the lessons of M° Luigi Biscaldi at the Music Academy in Biella. I also came into contact with rock music, and entered the prog band Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, with which I have the chance to play in Italy and abroad. In 2013 I released my first solo album, titled La Mia Voce (my voice), which contains ten pieces I composed for solo guitar. I carry out a good concert activity as a soloist and in various ensembles, including the neo-folk band Ianva. In • Scared Of Trying, has been released on Christmas 2018.” While listening to Fabio's second solo effort I got an idea about the title, because he doesn't sound like his band Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, and he doesn't sing in his native language, he goes his own way, not scared of trying to do what people around him won't expect. So on Don'Be Scared Of Trying he is a romantic troubadour, reminding me of fellow Italian Angelo Branduardi, blended with pastoral prog (Anthony Phillips, folky side of early Genesis) and 'unplugged' Steve Hackett. And Fabio sings in English, with slightly theatrical overtones. Although he is an inspired singer and does a decent job in English, I would have loved to hear him singing in his native language. The 10 songs mainly deliver dreamy and mellow atmospheres with an omnipresent classical guitar. On some tracks Fabio embellishes the sound with piano, and keyboards, like soaring organ in Over The Rainbow, synthesizer flights in Dance Of Hope and Hypersailor (also tight beat with rock guitar) and Mellotron violins in Lullabite. The final composition is the title track, a wonderful piece with twanging classical guitar, dreamy vocals and a melancholic cello. Fabio's second album is for the romantic progheads who are up to a very pleasant and mellow blend of classical, folk and prog, don't expect prog like his band Il Tempio Delle Clessidre. ***+ Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
