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Inner Prospekt - Canvas One CD (album) cover

CANVAS ONE

Inner Prospekt

 

Crossover Prog

3.83 | 15 ratings

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Steve Conrad
4 stars Enthralling, Cinematic Quest for Immortality

Grand Scope, Cinematic Flavors

High Seas, tormented lovers inhabit this latest release from the fecund Italian keyboard maestro Alessandro Di Benedetti- he of MAD CRAYON, and works by MARCO BERNARD and KIMMO PORSTI, and SAMURAI OF PROG.

By my count this is the ninth album Di Benedetti has released, all since 2011. Fecund, I say.

Nine Tracks

(I didn't have access to the bonus material). The story unfolds, filled with poetic lyrics set to lush, melancholy, rich keyboard-dominated music. Di Benedetti has a gift for setting a mood- the emotions, passions, and longings are baked in, and also enhanced by the guest female vocalists- one an operatic soprano, and the others more pop- flavored.

Starting with "Anime d' Inverno" (Winter Souls), we hear the sublime operatic, crystalline voice of guest Daniela Di Pasquale, soaring and searing, while around her, the orchestral sounds surge- (synthesized?) flute, strings, all with cinematic scope. Set into this stirring opener, we also hear the many tones of Di Benedetti's synthesizer leads, wistful acoustic piano interludes, and even harp.

Sometimes

On this second track, guest Flower Rising brings a clear, more pop-inflected tone and some sweet harmonies, set over jazzy piano-led passages, while string sounds enrich the palette. In these poetic lyrics and throughout, Di Benedetti teases the mind and the heart, making us think about the multi-faceted ideas, while the feelings ebb and flow.

Goin' Down Under

Here, with a funky beat, the sense of music changes, yet the lyrics continue the melancholy tone, and the idea of "my son" enters- the sense of immortality, the hope and promise of children. I'm guessing it's Di Benedetti's voice we're hearing in this track, and he's just a passable vocalist. I like the harmonies that show up sometimes. There's a fine synth lead over quietly cooking keyboard and band accompaniment.

The Endless Turnaround

This track is a bit of a puzzle- it reprises "Sometimes" in abbreviated, wistful fashion, and doesn't add much to the mix.

Punto di Non Ritorno (Point of No Return)

Clearly one of my favorite tracks with lush keyboard passages, cinematic scope and orchestral majesty interspersed with those trademark reflective acoustic piano reveries- then dreamy female vocalizations and rich instrumental interludes with deep, burbling bass synth tones underlying the sound.

L'Errone (Error)

A gentle acoustic piano/flute opens, then lush, dark string sounds build, and subside.

Evening Dust

This one opens with spritely, capricious synth sounds and female voice, while male vocals are added, sometimes in unison lines, sometimes harmonizing. Male voice is often a weak link, not terrible but not up to the rest of the voices. A majestic passage grows, then subsides.

The Land of Fools (and also the closer "From Her Side")

These comprise a reinterpretation of the Bernard and Porsti suite "Gulliver", opening with grand opening, electric guitar warbling and soaring over tasty keyboard sounds. Lyrics tell of adventure on high seas, danger, and risk, while there is swooping lead guitar, brief instrumental passages that grow and subside, only to reawaken. Part II of this suite, "Ghost and Lies" is wistful, reflective over acoustic piano, while the passage leading up to Part III- "Laggnagg", is simply sublime. With great majesty and power the music swells, only to subside again with that emotional acoustic piano...and ends with "From Her Side", in which the female longs for her lover, and consoles herself with the "life in my womb".

In conclusion

Grand, refined, restrained- yet passionate album, with very few missteps along the way.

My rating- 4 Stars: Excellent addition to any progressive rock collection.

Steve Conrad | 4/5 |

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