Are you ready for the first act? That's probably what the Italian outfit Wilson Project will ask you when they present you their second album Atto Primo. The follow up to their critically acclaimed debut Il Viaggio Dal Farsi (2022, see review). If you translate Atto Primo into English it will tell you that it means Act One. Well, are you ready? Of course, the band's name has nothing to do with all the musicians who´s last name is Wilson. People such as Steven Wilson, Ray Wilson and Damian Wilson. And nobody in the band has this name. Because they nowadays consist of Stefano Rapetti (bass guitar, vocals), Annalisa Ghiazza (vocals, aerophone), Andrea Protopapa (keyboards, vocals) and Mattia Pastorino (drums, vocals). Original guitarist Giovanni Giordano is not on on the new album. Therefore, this time around it is much more keyboard orientated. Just like their debut album Il Viaggio Dal Farsi (The Journey From Farsi), Atto Primo is once again a sort of concept album. Clearly, the musicians are as inspired by the long tradition of Italian prog as by the operatic culture of their countries. The band believes there's a strong connection between the world of classical opera and progressive rock. This is why Atto Primo is presented as a tribute to opera. In fact, each composition refers to a lyrical work and its composer. Or you could say that each song is inspired by a famous opera and its composer. Not only as a dedication, but to restore the original theatricality in a new guise. The album starts with Ouverture. The curtain rises. The story begins! You can hear that the audience is getting ready to enjoy the performance on stage. This instrumental composition was written as in classical opera using themes from the rest of the album to introduce the sonorities and the music of the whole composition. Then we move into the different songs. Each one of them has been thought out to take the listener into its own world, creating a journey across different places and atmospheres throughout the album. From a lyrical point of view, Taiji is based on an ancient Chinese myth. Ragnarok draws from Norse legends. The other tracks - Bolshoi, Nihonga and Duat - were inspired by novels from the 20th century. That being said, I can assure you that all the music on this excellent album is very prog orientated and hardly moves towards the musical style of opera. The band was very much influenced by 70s Italian prog. Premiata Forneria Marconi, Banco and Le Orme were totally part of their influences. But they also fell in love with the British progressive rock bands such as Genesis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Yes. But strangely enough I can hardly hear any of those influences on the six tracks that are included on Atto Primo. Most acts that take inspirations from those seventies bands also sounds like them. But this is not the case at all. The band developed a style of their own that takes minor musical details from their influences and mixed it with more modern music. But still making it very much sounding like progressive rock. Sure, the keyboard parts sometimes might have been taken from albums made by Premiata Forneria Marconi, Banco and Le Orme. But I don't hear any Keith Emerson kind of copied parts on the organ or synthesizers. Maybe a little bit of Rick Wakeman kind of sounding synthesizers but that's it. Sure, Protopapa's keyboards are very dominant in the total sound next to the parts Ghiazza played on her aerophone (digital woodwind instrument). But we don't here an ELP clone. The band makes me more think about a band such as Unreal City. Another rather keyboards orientated band from Italy. But also the legendary Italian act Mattia Bazar (remember Ti Sento 1985) comes to mind. Mostly because of the combination of keyboards with strong female vocals and the combination of mixing strong instrumental parts with more commercial sounding melodies. As for the songs it is easy to say that the band did not include any weak compositions or fillers on the album. Everything is of the same high level music wise. Therefore, it is not easy to come up with favourites songs. Of course, the two longest pieces of music Ragnarok (12:50) and Duat (13:43) are the ones which have the best instrumental parts. Not only on keyboards and woodwinds. For example, on Ragnarok you can hear an excellent bass solo as well. On the other hand on Bolshoi there is a short drum solo included which makes it a very special tune too. Also, Ouverture, which opens the album, is certainly a great track. So, nothing to complain about I guess! I did not even miss the guitar parts which were included on their debut! Wilson Project shows the complexity of prog-rock combined with the solemnity of opera, in a varied and magniloquent album. Which Atto Primo surely is. An album that invites listeners to discover the bands musical references, evoking emotions and leaving room for imagination. I guess Wilson Project stands for the progressive rock which we hear nowadays coming from Italy. Fresh! Looking back a little at their musical ancestors, but especially thinking about the future and staying progressive and continuing to develop musically. Highly recommended if you like modern prog with snippets from retro prog! **** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
