SISTEMA

Ego is an instrumental trio from Varese who have now been around for two decades. Their fifth album Sistema (System) came out in 2014, and it is not a sound one might expect from the RPI bench. While there are occasional traces of RPI coming mostly from the romantic and melodic piano gracing several tracks, much of the album is almost like retro electronica that would not sound out of place blasted at a rave nor as the background soundtrack for a video game, making the album cover a perfect visual token for what you should expect. The synths are so brilliantly robust and layered and rich, complete and total ear candy. The bass is massive and forceful. The drumming is very much about propelling the vehicle forward, almost sounding like programmed beats sometimes, though I believe it is live drumming.

The songs can sound like pop music one moment but completely veer into the unknown at the drop of a hat. As mentioned, there is that sense that this could be soundtrack music to a video game, and it is music as constant movement and energy. The lack of vocals is so perfect for this album because it allows you to immerse more fully into the experiment. There are excursions from the pulsing synth-rock such as the brass-laden "Via Del Cairo," the gorgeous piano solo "Distrazione," and the 10-minute symphonic, cinematic "Petit Prince," very much the payoff pitch here, meticulously crafted and dreamy and dynamic. As our superb reviewer and friend Thomas wrote, this album "stretches the boundaries" of RPI. While not entirely my cup of tea, this album is sure to please fans of both retro and modern synth/key-heavy instrumental rock not straddled by the too-common jazz-fusion slant of other instrumental bands.

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