L'OMBRA DELLA SERA

When it comes to modern Italian prog, it's no secret that Fabio Zuffanti is one of the most prolific figures in the scene. Zuffanti has been involved in so many projects over the years that it's difficult to keep track of all the things he's participated in, but his involvement in this new band immediately grabbed my attention. L'Ombra Della Sera is a trio featuring Agostino Macor on keyboards, Fabio Zuffanti on bass, and Maurizio Di Tollo on drums, and their self-titled debut aims to recreate some classic Italian soundtracks and TV themes from the 1970's. Very much in the style of the seventies', the musical style that the trio explores is somewhere in the realm between retro symphonic prog and jazz fusion; the retro aesthetics are further strengthened by the vintage keyboard palette and warm, early seventies' sounding production. In short, if you're a fan of Italian prog and fusion, L'Ombra Della Sera is not one to miss.

Though L'Ombra Della Sera is only a three-piece, their music is often fleshed out with the addition of other instruments. Trumpet, saxophone, flute, and vocals will all make an appearance over the course of the album, and while Agostino Macor's massive keyboard palette is often enough to create a full arrangement, these other instruments are integral to the songs they are featured in. Whether it be a lovely flute solo or a wailing saxophone outburst, it always feels like a critical part of the music. L'Ombra Della Sera also has some pretty dark atmospheres throughout its duration, and although you'll be treated to some funky fusion in "Il Segno Del Comando (Cento Campane)" and light-hearted cinematics in "La Traccia Verde", the rest of the album tends to veer into territory that may be darker than you would've expected. For my money, I think this variation in moods and styles makes L'Ombra Della Sera an absolute joy to listen to - the band has a masterful grasp on every style that they attempt, and that's surely due to every member's incredible level of experience in the music-making business.

L'Ombra Della Sera is an album I've really enjoyed listening to over the past few weeks, and if you enjoy seventies' instrumental prog, odds are that you'll dig this album too. The musicianship is every bit as astounding as you'd expect it to be from a cast of such prolific musicians, and their unique approach to retro-sounding progressive rock is what makes this such an incredible album. Whereas many bands that try to recreate the sound of the seventies' end up feeling derivative and unoriginal, L'Ombra Della Sera is one of the few who manages to shed a new light on an old style, resulting in a sound that is uniquely their own. Judging by the strength of this debut, I really hope that L'Ombra Della Sera doesn't end up being a one-off project, but if it does, at least they've left us with this spectacular release.