PATHS AND CROSSROADS

"Paths And Crossroads" is the second album by Endless Season and was self-released in 2022 with a renewed line up featuring original members Lorenzo Di Prima (bass) and Paolo Busatto (guitar) along with Andrea Cecchetto (drums), Luca Ardini (sax) and Francesco Pollon (keyboards). According to the band, the title of the album refers to its particular brew of different genres and musical influences and "reflects the idea behind the album's music, which follows defined paths but at the same time crosses different instances and genres, with sudden and unexpected changes of direction". The colourful art work by Alcide Sartori tries to give an idea of the musical content... 

The opener "No Excuses" starts by an elaborated drum pattern, then the other instruments come in and the rhythm takes off. The music goes through many changes in atmosphere, there are some delicate, dreamy passages and there are frenzied rides across exotic territories but the wide and varied range of influences the band mixed together perfectly flow without weak moments in a coherent way...

"Paradox" is another good piece where you can find fiery funky rhythms and calmer parts with a soaring electric guitar that could recall Santana... The following "47" begins with a jazzy piano solo, then evolves into something different that every now and again reminds me of Area while a further calmer part with a beautiful acoustic guitar solo reminds me of Al Di Meola...

On "Moonlight Promenade" the delicate acoustic guitar arpeggio intro takes you through nocturnal landscapes of intense beauty where dreaming piano passages and soaring sax melodies fill the air... Then it's the turn of "Do You Wanna Play With Me?" where the musicians seem to invite you to join them for a carefree and joyful jam session mixing jazz and blues...

For the lively "Squaring The Circle" the band shot a curious video where, with lightness and self-irony, they showcase all their musicianship and the fun they have playing together... 

Next comes "Exhalations" that opens with a disquieting, dark electric guitar arpeggio. Here the pace is slow and the atmosphere is that of a gathering storm. This piece is linked to "Deep Surface" that follows in the same vein and where the sax notes draw melancholic, jazzy melodic lines... After a pause, the short coda "Outro: Remembering" ends the album in an unexpected way with its poppish suggestions...

On the whole, a good album that deserves a try.