Barock Project

As always, a grateful hello and welcome back to the Concert Closet fellow progheads!  Our visit to Rome last week spending time with Inior was fun and stimulating--which got me to thinking (something that usually leads to trouble).  Although I tend to call the UK my second home when it comes to progressive music, my search for all things prog has revealed some truly superb bands in Italy.  Since the Concert Closet is already here, why not extend our stay seven more days and see what else lurks in the Italian section of the prog garden?

Traveling north from Rome, I take the Concert Closet to the Modena region where I discover the invigorating sounds of Barock Project.  Describing themselves simply enough as "...a symphonic rock band..."  leaves a lot to the imagination--and the headphones.  Symphonic sounds range from Gentle Giant to The Trans-Siberian Orchestra to ELP to The Moody Blues to Glass Hammer to...you get my point.  An adjective that by simple definition is not so simply defined.

OK; so as is my wont in this situation, I saunter to the buffet with a grandiose gait.  The first offering served up on the carving board is a strong cut called "Coffee in Neukolln."  As expected/anticipated, delicate piano work begins the march to some strong keyboards.  I detect some top notes of Flim & The BB's and an aromatic whiff of Gregorian Rock.  Barock Project hops on the mood elevator and pushes all the buttons...emotions ride high and crash hard.  The vocals are Boz Scaggs smooth...I can almost feel the velvet surround me...two weeks in Italy for the win...

The second course is a bit more grandiose; "Overture."  Keith Emerson's ears must be burning as keyboards are hurled through he headphones at lightning speed.  I get the sense of riding the dark horse on a merry-go-round as the calliope ups the tempo...you are torn between needing to step off and wanting to go even faster.  Barock Project doesn't paint with bright colors here--they fire paint balls at the canvas and admire their handiwork.

Liner Notes...Barock Project hails from the aforementioned Modena region of Italy and currently consists of Luca Zabbini, composer, keyboard player and backing vocalist, Luca Pancaldi on lead vocals, Marco Mazzuoccolo on guitar, and Eric Ombelli on drums.  The essence of  the Barock Project is to bring classical, jazz, and rock together creating a more structured sound while revamping 70's era prog-rock.  I guess re-inventing the wheel wasn't challenging enough...

Ten plus years and four albums later, Barock Project continues to stretch the boundaries of the prog garden.  Keyboards ranging from the intimate to the extravagant encased in opera-strong vocals that blaze a trail held upright by strong guitar work...and the entire venture is built on a foundation of drums and percussion bursting through at just the right places.  Barock Project hits fast and with extreme passion, much like sheets of rain  blown horizontal by a blustery wind on a fall September day...

Platter number three from this week's progfeast is an in-depth poignant piece called "Akery." The opening piano builds a wall of emotion that starts slowly...and while you feel each brick being laid into place, you are bracing for the wrecking ball--but it hits with a non-lethal whack leaving only a slight mark on the inner lining of your ear drums.  Barock Project stands tall in the symphonic section of the prog garden, resonating just fine with the standard bearers.  If Atomic Rooster had a brightly colored alter-ego, Barock Project would be it.

The clip posted below was chosen to offer but a glimpse through the kaleidoscope that is Barock Project.  The song is called "Fool's Epilogue" and gives the listener  the opportunity to appreciate the versatility Barock Project brings to the prog garden.  Learn more about the band at http://www.barockproject.it/.  Of course, you can further scratch the itch by following them on Twitter, @BAROCKPROJECT and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/barockproject?_rdr=p.

Well fellow progheads, these past two weeks in Italy were the fastest moving fourteen days in recent memory.  Barock Project brought Italian progressive rock full circle for me; the metal of Dream Theater, symphonic wizardry of ELP and TSO,  and the ornate soundscapes of  Yes and Gentle Giant.  Barock Project is sure about who they are and not afraid to fill a room with sound.  The prog garden needs more of what Barock Project brings...youthful maturity.  They have done their due diligence and are not content being the caboose--they are the steam engine melting the rails.  So before I leave Italy to continue the search for all things prog, perhaps one last shot of Italian symphonic...salud.  Until next week...