N.Y.X

This is a project that was born in Italian city Turin in the beginning of the New Millennium. After a period dedicated to the electric experimentation, the duo formed by Walter F. (vox, guitars, bass and devices) and Danilo A. 'Pannico' (drums, percussions, piano, organ, marimba and devices) has published a first work in 2005, an approach to the song form integrating progressive and psychedelic influences. This eponymous EP got very good reviews from all the press and let the two musicians to improve their musical experience with many live and studio collaborations, particularly in France.

Down In Shadows is the first studio-album, a co-production with the famous Italian label Electromantic Music (led by Beppe Crovella, known from Italian Classic Prog legend Arti & Mestieri). It is a concept, based on the pure tradition of the experimental music, telling a modern story of betrayal and loneliness. The main character, a complex and disturbed personality, suffers a 'progressive' degeneracy 'until the end of time', with ineluctable consequences. On Down In Shadows we can enjoy collaborations of saxophone player David Jackson (VDGG but also a collaboration with famous Classic Italian Prog band Osanna) and 'touch guitar' player Trey Gunn, known for his work with King Crimson, Robert Fripp, David Sylvian and John Paul Jones.

As you can read in the introduction, the seven tracks on Down In Shadows contain experimental music with a lot of variety, layered with sounds, generated by loops, devices and a wide range of instruments.

Dreamy with soaring Farfisa organ, cello and a high pitched female voice in C18H21N03.

Mellow with acoustic rhythm guitar and Bowie-like vocals in Day After Day and O.Y.O.

And a heavy and ominous sound with a propulsive rhythm-section, a wall of fiery and biting guitars and screamy saxophone and work on the marimba in Down In Shadows I + II.

The guitars have an important role on this album, especially Trey Gunn his Warr guitar sound adds a special flavour to the music, blended with intricate soundscapes and a subtle use of varied instruments.

This is not 'easy to digest' progressive rock for the average proghead, but for King Crimson fans (more experimental/avant-garde era) and those who like adventurous prog this is a band to discover. In 2016 this band released a second effort entitled News.

My rating: 3,5 star.

1. "Restless Slumber (At The Break Of Dawn)" (4:43) Heavy use of industrial/techno-beats and clever engineering tricks with elements of both jazz (particularly in the piano play) and ambient/electronic soundscapes. (8/10)

2. "Groundhog Day (Wakening, Dressing, Starting Up?)" (7:09) seering guitar shredding and 'crazed' TIM SMITH/BILL NELSON-like lead vocals make this a real standout. Plus, the bass line and techno drums keep us hoppin' along at a nice clip. Walt Nyx, Dannilo Pannico and Klod: you do impress! (9/10)

3. "A Sarcastic Portrait (Editorial, Home and Foreign?)" (6:14) opens with some techno-synth drums, keys and, again, the slightly crazed David Bowie/Tim Smith/DEVO-treated voice. Adrian Belew's contribution is not really felt until the solo at the end of the second minute, but he's there. The atmospheric pitch-bent note play at the end of the third minute are hypnotic (which, I think, is the intended effect--so that they could shock us with the ) Beautiful acoustic guitar picked section opens up and plays through the fifth minute. The final minute is a more melodic, slightly calmer return to the opening section. Awesome song! Could've been done in the 80s! (9/10)

4. "Discord (Domestic Policies)" (7:20) opens with guitars, synths, and vocals sounding much like the 1980's DANIEL ASH-led, post-BAUHAUS band, LOVE AND ROCKETS. The second minute opens with a fuller, almost THE CHURCH or XTC sound. Nice! The vocal hits some moments that remind me of Bob Dylan, Donovan, and even the late Michael HUTCHENCE (of INXS). Surprisingly sedate and pretty song (in light of the previous three racous, punkie three). (9/10)

5. "The Paper (Titles & Subtitles)" (5:25) opens as a kind of dystopian soundtrack theme, very emotionless, ruminating and robotic. The background sound of British news anchor delivering the daily news in the second minute is later mixed with a second voice track of news delivery. Interesting! (8/10) 6. "Oscillations Du Chaos ? Part III" (3:23) continue the theme and melodic sense of the previous song with different layers and sounds added (percussion, piano, old non-electric typewriter). (9/10)

7. "The Daily Dark Delirium" (12:52) opens with a PORCUPINE TREE Fear of a Dark Planet sound and feel. When vocalist Walt NYX and the "Popcorn"-like keyboard arpeggi enter it brings it more into the PETER SCHILLING domain. At 2:10 an insistent guitar strum enters (Trey Gunn?) and proceeds to take over. Man can the sound of that Warr Guitar take you places! Great sound engineering on this one! If there is a time when the quirky vocals of Mr. Nyx fail (or, perhaps they're just getting old--the novelty worn off) it is in the extended (and prolonged) vocal section in the fifth, sixth, and seventh minutes of this song. A little sampling of some CLASH, TALKING HEADS, FALCO, and LES NEGRESSE VERTES music and vocal stylings on display here. The spacey, DEPECHE MODE sound that takes over in the tenth minute reminds one of recent works of German solo artist, THOMAS THIELEN (known as "T"). I like this song a lot but it didn't really need to be a 13- minute 'epic.' (8/10)

I have to admit that this is a surprisingly refreshing listening experience--like going into a prog-minded development of the Euro-techno pop sounds and styles of the 1980s. As Adrian Belew would say, "I like it!"

4.5 stars; highly recommended to any adventurous prog music listener.