ROAD TO PLANET CIRCUS

Hey, now here we are on the 'Road To Planet Circus', with a whole lotta groove on board. Without exaggeration I can say that MAD FELLAZ from Italy are belonging to my favourite contemporary bands. This due to the offered sophisticated songwriting skills, either resulting in a rather complex eclectic attitude, however also being highly melodic and catchy in the same way. Also, what you can rely on, they are not repeating themselves with every new album. All in all, on this occasion they are tending to the more accessible side, which is including proper Jazz, Pop and Funk imprints, However, hereby they never ever will completely leave the main orientation, the progressive rock paths. The band's line up hasn't significantly changed compared to their previous third album from 2019. And so the album sees a core of seven musicians this time, additionally supported by a bunch of guest appearances. That also includes excellent news, because lead singer Luca Brighi is involved again. His voice has evolved to a real trademark in the meanwhile, eh, I dare to say, just in the way it exemplarily was with David Longdon for Big Big Train. Where all the lyrics are in English language completely, as usual.

The Animal Spell kick-off comes with a prog typical repetitve motif, at some point Luca Brighi enters the scene with his accent-free vocal appearance. Free As A Dog then is tending to a pop rock appeal featuring some calypso touch, but also fantastic guitar solo activity everywhere around. Jokepot was the first track to be offered prior to the album release, rather wind instrument dominated, and provided with nice straightforward grooves, still a favourite of mine. And then somebody has formed a spendid a capella ensemble, just for letting it Rise Again, very touching! Finally Tennouheika No Sakura looks like a contribution for or from Japan, but I couldn't detect any translation for that. This album offers eleven exciting new songs again, great vocal arrangements, skillfull instrumental presence. So much potential available regarding those MAD FELLAZ, still! Now I'm eagerly waiting for the day to see them live in Melle-Buer.

"Road To Planet Circus" is the fourth album by Mad Fellaz and was self-released in 2022 with a renewed line up featuring Paolo Busatto (electric and acoustic guitar), Andrea Cecchetto (drums, percussion), Ruggero Burigo (guitars), Carlo Passuello (bass), Enrico Brunelli (keyboards, synthesizers), Rudy Zilio (flute, clarinet, synthesizers), and Luca Brighi (lead and backing vocals) plus some guests such as Giovanni Forestan (sax), Davide Baratto (guitar, backing vocals), Evridika Cuder (backing vocals), Fabio Trentini (backing vocals), Giancarlo Romano (trumpet) and Marcello Sambataro (additional keyboards). As on the previous album, during the recording sessions they were helped by producer Fabio Trentini (Moonbound, Le Orme) and shaped their compositions with a strong focus on the "groove" in a nice blend of prog, jazz-rock, fusion, funk, afro and even a bit of soul. The beautiful artwork by Antonio Carrara tries to depict the musical content...

The opener "The Animal Spell" features hypnotic atmospheres and exotic flavours that might recall the imaginary landscapes of Roger Dean. The music and lyrics in some way invite you to close your eyes and take off from the ground jumping up to the sky where life beats hard and you can find beautiful, deep colours and paint your dreams with them...

The lively, carefree "Free As A Dog" portrays a man walking on a street as free as he can be in a bright sunny day. He can run wherever he likes and no chain can stop him, all he needs is the light of the sun shining through the rain and its warming effect on his skin to feel good. The music every now and again reminds me slightly of PFM...

"Jokepot" is a funny piece inspired by the character and the story of Giancarlo Pelosini, an Italian TV quiz show contestant who answered by a suggestive joke to an ambiguous question about the warlike qualities of the legendary Amazons. He lost a huge sum of money but became famous... Next comes the lively "Sips Of Confidence", a warning against the charming, false promises of modern barkers who draw your attention to sell you illusory remedies to soothe your pains...

"Rise And Shine" starts by a soft, acoustic intro. Here the vocals are used just like an instrument to add a touch of colour. When the rhythm rises the dreaming atmosphere does not vanish and the music shines like the sun upon the desert producing mirages... The following "Tuareg's Dance" evokes in music and words a long caravan of tired men and women that, step after step is crossing a hot, sunny desert. The falling rain is like a blessing for them, an injection of hope for their hard journey towards the sea... Then, "Exodus" describes their feelings, the silent cries they left behind and the difficult choices they had to made leaving their homeland to reach the shore from where diving into the unknown...

On the notes of the sarcastic "Candy Store" you disembark on a greedy world where you have to keep calm and maintain your self-control because all what you can see is deceiving and dangerous. Real happiness lies on a magic land where there's no crime nor lies, a paradise where you can find love everywhere... A place that doesn't exist! Next comes "Babylon" where there are some passages that might recall Gentle Giant blended with Oriental flavours. The music and words convey a sense of dramatic awareness about all what's going around you. It's written in your eyes that you want back your liberty...

The following "Rise Again" begins a cappella and the influence of Gentle Giant is stronger than ever when the vocals evoke the sense of freedom that can experience children plying games and climbing trees... Eventually, the long, beautiful instrumental "Tennouheika No Sakura" (Cherry Blossoms of His Majesty the Emperor) closes the album with a surreal, dreamy atmosphere...

On the whole, a very good work that is worth listening to.