DETACHMENT

94/100 When I heard Barock Project's Luca Zabbini keyboardist/Composer replaced lead vocalist Luca Pancaldi, who quit the band for family reasons...I abandoned my plan to preorder Detachment. Pancaldi's vocals was one of the reasons I fell in love with Barock Project's album Skyline. How could they replace Pancaldi's pretty tonsils with a backup singer? Could Barock Project pull off a Genesis?

But after hearing Detachment on a prog stream service, I fell head over heels and immediately ordered Barock Project's new album. Now, I listen to Detachment more than Skyline! And, I like Skyline a lot.

Skyline and Detachment are strikingly different albums with all the right things in common such as searing guitar solos provided by Marco Mazzuoccolo's emotion drenched guitar picking and chamber strumming, slightly reminiscent of Marillion's Steve Rothery.

Special kudos to Eric Ombelli / drums, percussion. Ombelli reminds me of a less bombastic John Bonham. Eric Ombelli's percussion and drumming is fun, unique, and offbeat accented with memorable drum fills I find myself waiting in anticipation for.

In the last two years, Luca Zabbini has become my favorite modern keyboardist. Why? Zabbini's Bach flavored compositions are complex yet extremely melodic, hook filled ear candy. If you swooned over the sweeping melodic originality of Bach, Rick Wakeman, and Keith Emerson's keyboard styles you must give Barock Project a listen. Don't worry, Zabbini isn't derivative. Zabbini writes catchy proggy melodies that you can hum and bang your head to. And to my surprise, there isn't a drop off from Pancaldi's vocals to Zabbini's. As an added bonus Pete Jones of Tiger Moth Tails sings lead on two wonderful tunes. One upbeat song and one heartbreaking dirge. In my mind Barock Project/Zabbini's strength is composition. Like Steven Wilson and Big Big Train, Luca Zabbini writes gorgeous songs! Songs you can sing to. Shiver up your backbone songs. It's hard to write complex yet catchy prog.

Ironically, I can share Detachment with my wife as it's her favorite album since IQ's Road of Bones. I'm crossing my fingers Barock Project rereleases their back catalog as they continue to forge forward creating consistently resplendent music. I won't hesitate to jump on the next preorder.