SENZA TEMPO

In 2005 Italian formation Ubi Maior pleasantly surprised the progheads with their debut CD entitled Nostos, firmly rooted in the Classic Prog tradition and layered with vintage keyboards, especially the Mellotron sound is awesome. In those days Ubi Maior also performed on a Biglietto Per L'Inferno tribute concert (along legendary bands like Le Orme, Banco and Area), they made a huge impression and a lot of fans! Four years later Ubi Maior released their eagerly awaited successor named Senza Tempo. Was it worth waiting that long? Yes, it was!

Listening to Senza Tempo I conclude that the band has matured during the years between their two albums, the 10 compositions sound more balanced and structured than on Nostos. Singer Mario Moi (he also plays electric violin) has an important role with his unique vocals: a bit raw and very passionate and in songs like Disperazione, Delirio and Destino he colours the music in a very special way with strong theatrical undertones. To me it sounds as a perfect match with Ubi Maior's often dark, compelling and heavy bombastic progrock. At other moments he very sounds warm, almost tender. Like in the mellow mid-section of Sogno (in combination with beautiful violin- Mellotron waves), the intro of Desiderio (wonderful duet with sparkling Grand piano) and especially in the first part of Distruzione (subtle blend of warm vocals, Fender Rhodes-like piano and soaring keyboards).

But I am mostly impressed how Ubi Maior succeeds to build up the tension in many songs, especially in the long compositions Delirio (delivering moving guitar work and swirling Hammond organ) and the exciting, very varied Destino (fantastic 'grand finale' with strong hints of Pallas due to the compelling choir-Melllotron sound and the fiery guitar runs). Other strong examples are:

Sogno : from heavy and compelling with a dark climate in the vein of Il Balletto Di Bronzo to sultry with soaring viloin-Mellotron, and from a slow rhythm with howling guitar and inspired vocals to gradually bombastic with propulsive guitar riffs and violin-Mellotron waves,

Desiderio : from a beautiful Grand piano intro with warm vocals to bombastic eruptions with fiery guitar and majestic choir-Mellotron eruptions

and the sultry Distruzione : from dreamy with hypnotizing Fender electric piano to romantic with dreamy vocals and melancholical electric violin.

The short Morte sounds as a PFM inspired 'classic meets rock' song featuring lots of Moog and Hammond along folky acoustic rhythm guitar. And the final track Morte Parte IV is a good example how Ubi Maior has found the balance on Senza Tempo: after the long and alternating composition Destino, the band ends the album with the dreamy sounding Morte Part IV featuring warm acoustic guitar and electric violin and pleasant vocals.

We had to wait four years for this second Ubi Maior CD, but in the end it was really worth to wait that long, highly recommended. And we even had to wait six years for the successor entitled Incanti Bio Meccanici, released in 2015, I am not (yet) familiar with their third effort.

This was my final review in this 2008-2014 Italian prog serie, to compile and publish it was great fun. Because it evoked cascades of pleasant memories: all those neverending, beer and wine drenched prog nights, attended by an increasing amount of Dutch progheads, listening to the brandnew Pandora, Narrow Pass and Il Bacio Della Medusa, 'la dolce vita', ciao.