PROG-JET IV: AIONVERSE

Website info:" An explanation by the band for the weird name Baro Prog-Jets is the name referring to Italian multi- instrumentalist Alberto "Baro" Molesini dreams of his own progressive rock compositions taking flight! Baro started to play in the mid-Seventies, inspired by the progressive music from Genesis, King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd, ELP and Frank Zappa. He took up playing musical instruments, and eventually founded the formation La Sintesi, but disbanded at the end of the Eighties. But Baro kept on writing and recording, the first versions of ambitious concept works, although these would remain uncompleted for some time yet... Fast forward to now, Baro has finally completed several of his once only dreamed-about works, in 2019 released in a special double-CD edition. CD-1 is entitled Lucille A Giada, a 44 minute, multi-part suite in the classic and grandiose vintage RPI manner. And CD-2 is entitled Topic Würlenio, it is comprised of shorter political and social themed songs. But both discs offer a varied and colourful collection of lavish progressive rock music. In 2021 Baro Prog-Jets released a new album named Utopie, as a duo with drummer Gigi Murari, along guest musicians on piano, guitars and bass. About this album I wrote "To me this music sounds as interesting blend of Old School Prog (especially Yes) and varied, own musical ideas."

This new album is a concept album titled Prog-jet iv Aionverse. It is a rock opera with 8 characters conceived and directed by the earlier mentioned Alberto Molesini, aka Baro. It has a 20-page booklet with stories, lyrics and images. On this new album, the band features again a collaboration of multi-instrumentalist Baro (lead & backing vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards) and drummer Gigi Murari, supported by Elena Cipriani on backing vocals, and a wide range of guest musicians, including Paolo Zanella on piano, Nicola Rotta, Baxnug and Massimo Basaglia on electric guitar, Jack Molesini on jambè, Gabriel Bellorti and violin, and Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn and Ayreon) and Iacopo Meille (Tygers Of Pan Tang) on vocals.

The sound is in the vein of the previous album Utopie (see my PA review). Which means lots of Yes hints, especially due to the Jon Anderson like voice, vocal harmonies and growling bass, blended with interesting musical ideas. Remarkable is the contrast between the melodic and accessible parts with pleasant and varied vocals in English and the more complex, often instrumental interludes (with hints from Frank Zappa, UK and King Crimson), embellished with lots of fine work on keyboards, and some harder-edged guitar solos in the longer compositions Creator's Farewell (between 70s Yes and Neo-Prog, with lots of shifting moods and keyboards, and a heavy guitar solo), Flow Of Life (from sparkling classical piano to Steve Howe influenced acoustic guitar) and the epic Crossing Pathways (3 parts) that sounds like a blend of 70s Yes and Gentle Giant featuring strong work on synthesizers, piano and organ, lots of powerful breaks and variety, and fine acoustic guitar play.

My rating: 3,5 star.

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