20.000 LEGHE SOTTO I MARI

4.5 stars. We're not even half way through 2025 but I can tell you that this record will be a top five for me for this year. NUOVA ERA had a four album run from 1988 to 1995 before calling it a day. The music they created at that time does not take a back seat to the seventies masters. Very much a keyboard/vocal driven band with Italian lyrics.

It would be around 2008 that keyboardist Walter Pini would connect with a bass player and drummer to re-record three tracks that were used on those three "Divine Comedy" concept albums, one each. I don't have any of those but I do have the compilation album they released in 2010 which does. By the way the drummer helping out was Davide Guidoni from DAAL. Those three tracks are incredible and a continuation of the amazing music from their 1995 release "Il Passo Del Soldato".

And it was on that 2010 compilation record that we would be introduced to the new singer/guitarist Alex Camaiti who is featured here in 2025 and also with their "Return To The Castle" album from 2016. And while he sang in English on that one, he returns with Italian vocals here. The four piece lineup on this record was the same one on that "Return To The Castle" album. So yes these guys have been playing together for a while now. I have the cd version of this album which comes with a 16 minute bonus track called "Nautilus" which is as good as the main 36 minute plus title track.

The other cool thing about having the cd is that it opens up to reveal the two panel art work. So we see what one of the members is smiling at looking to his right. As in a castle which usually graces their art work. But also instruments that are all at the bottom of the ocean. This truly is the Walter Pini show. The only original member left, and the composer. I have to give props to the singer for his beautiful voice which is full of character. He doesn't add a ton of guitar but when he does it is often angular. The rhythm section has some chemistry and they form such an impressive bedrock of sounds throughout. The bassist is playing a Fender Jazz bass.

So one long 36 plus minute piece. I always write out what I'm hearing but this review is already long enough. I like how they add the splashing water sounds to open the album, but then they reprise those sounds several more times to tie this concept together. Walter blesses us with mellotron as well. But he mainly is ripping it up on the organ but adds plenty of piano and synths. There's something about those synths that I really like when they are leading. I like how this album ends with such a climax of sounds after 35 minutes.

Thankyou Mr. Pini for all the wonderful music, and I am so happy you are still making relevant music after all of these years. And for the rest of the band, you make me proud for building on the legacy of this great band. This is about as good as anything they had done previously except for maybe "Il Passo Del Soldato" but it's close enough, and also subjective.

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