THE EXPERIENCE

This is cool! Laviantica is a veteran band from Rome active for over three decades now. While they have roots and influences deep in the past glories of those old neo-prog bands, they have done a remarkable job of moving that ball forward into a fresh and modern progressive rock that doesn't feel at all dated.

And as an added bonus, this is a fully instrumental album that is engaging as hell. Not for a second will you miss some dude blathering personal opinions on geopolitics or spinning a yarn about another plate-mailed knight heading into battle in the realm of Norvelle. Instead, this album is a dream for fans of melodic instrumental rock, with all players having more-than-adequate space to evolve idea after idea.

Despite the lack of vocals, there actually is a story told in the CD/LP booklet. The Experience is a "concept album telling the journey of Galbat, an imaginary entity coming from an immaterial space, who decides to explore our physical world." What I loved so much about this 40-minute instrumental journey is simply how genuinely effective they were at being compelling without a singer. The music and melodies themselves pull you right in and affect you emotionally.

Well-constructed keyboard and guitar passages are everywhere, while the only real "substitute" for a vocal is the frequent use of the flute. While Laviantica does not sound particularly like Mike Oldfield or Camel, the experience is similar. A very lovely and almost soothing melodic ride that carries you away, not unlike The Snow Goose or Ommadawn but definitely sounding more current if you will. Spain's Gotic is actually an even closer reference with the ample flute and punchier rhythm section, but, again, Laviantica sounding 2018 and not 1978.

There is so much going on here from symphonic to RPI to updated neo-prog to even folk and jazz-fusion elements. The 12-minute opener of "The Journey" followed by the 8-minute "Breathing Flower" is a one-two punch that should lock you in as a fan. Adventurous, flawless performance, but really it is the spaciousness and color of their songwriting palette that make this one of 2018's finest. I'm surprised it is not more widely known.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Finnforest
• Report this review (#3193900)
• Buy LAVIÀNTICA music online with PA partners
• Show all LAVIÀNTICA MP3/Stream
• Go to LAVIÀNTICA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to The Experience page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for LAVIÀNTICA related discussions