BESTIE, UOMINI E DÈI

The fourth album release from Italian band Ubi Maior since 2004, Bestie, Uomini e D'i shows some very adept compositional and performance skills--which results in the best RPI album I've yet heard from 2020. As with the subject selections for each song, the compositions are varied and distinctive--rendered especially so by the astonishingly chameleonic range and creativity of singer Mario Moi.

1. "Nero Notte" (6:12) great guitar and bass opening, then Neo Prog drums and keys enter to help establish the structural and melodic base before singer Mario Moi enters. Mario's voice is strong though a little warbly. Also, he sings this one with a kind of single note approach. The solid instrumental section that follows the opening vocal section begins with some nice violin before giving way to electric rock guitar. With the vocals I'm reminded of contemporary bands Syndone, Egonon, and La Maschera di Cena. (8.5/10)

2. "Misteri di Tessaglia" (7:33) very straightforward gentle ballad format that uses an ascending four-chord progression for the first section. At 2:30 things stop and restart with a heavier, more proggy palette for an instrumental section of guitar, violin, and synth taking turns over a kind of JC Superstar theme. When the vocals return the song stays heavy and full-on prog. Now this is more like it! Great finish! (13.5/15)

3. "Wendigo" (7:54) Drums get us started before spacey-guitar, keys and bass join in. FRANCESCO CIAPICA-sounding voice enters to sing. Great instrumental sections in between vocal verses. Interesting slowed down but powerful, marching URIAH HEEP-like section begins at 4:10 but then switches into an odd time signature at 5:25 to sound more GENESIS-like. Mario's performance is quite animated and powerful despite few pitchy moments. Piano becomes more prominent over drums, bass, and synth washes at 7:00, eventually taking over for a solo finish. Great song! (14/15)

4. "Nessie" (8:50) an instrumental kind of swings like a heavy INGRANAGGI DELLA VALLE song with strong organ foundation. At 1:52 a slower, more sensitive pastiche is laid for jazz and rock guitar soli. Trumpet joins in the solo celebration but with a consistent melody that makes it more part of the foundational weave. Fiery Hammond organ solo in the fifth minute before the electric violin takes a turn. Very nice, with each and every change and section feeling engaging and interesting. Electric guitars and various synths take turns exchanging war-like soli over the course of the next four minutes culminating in a guitar finish (and victory?). (18.5/20)

5. "Fabula Sirenis" (5:22) opens very smoothly with a slow full band fabric over which Mario sings with a beautifully sensitive vocal. At 1:25 the tempo picks up and a kind of GENESIS-like section transitions us to the 1:55 full-force drama for about 30 seconds before returning to the GENESIS motif for another vocal section. There is a similarity of this music and vocal performance to some of the early impassioned songs of LA COSCIENZA DI ZENO. Very well constructed and performed song. (9.25/10)

6. "Bestie, Uomini E D'i" (9:42) another heavy DEEP PURPLE-like organ-based thumping rocker over which Mario's more vulnerable, warbly voice sings. This one falls below the standards now set by the previous four songs as it is a little too simple and straightforward for the first three minutes. Even when the pace quickens, the even-beat ascending four chord progression is tiresome. Nice entry of church organ at 3:59 to support a creative electric guitar solo. A quiet acoustic guitar-supported section in the sixth minute falls a little flat--both musically and vocally- -until the piano joins in, then Mario's vocalise gets interesting and emotionally powerful. Switch to slow, piano based bluesy PINK FLOYD section at the eight minute mark (made PF-ish for its Gilmour-like slide guitar soloing). Pretty. (17.75/20)

Total Time 45:33

An album that upon first listen I had trouble connecting with, began to grow and grow on me with repeated listens. The compositional acumen of these guys is superb--as is their sense of melody. Skill levels are quite good all around (especially with the keyboard player) and very creative and refreshingly original, though I still room to grow. Now I have to go back and catch up on the band's previous three albums!

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music of the RPI kind and my favorite RPI album of 2020! (so far)