Boundary Exception, "Teardrops on a Blank Page"

Thankful to meet again fellow progheads!  The prog garden is filled with many bands and artists both old and new.  Several are conjoined on many levels; the diagram connecting King Crimson and its derivatives would take more time and space than allowed here in the Concert Closet...suffice to say it would be one busy flowchart.  Yet there are also many other not-so-well-known artists that are cross-connected to several projects, bands, and ideas.  One such maestro is Peter Hamer.  This week the search for all things prog checks in with Boundary Exception, one of several projects for whom Peter is the  mastermind.


Hearkening back to my April 2016 interview with Peter, I recall his mentioning a female-fronted progressive rock "project" called Boundary Exception.  Knowing how deep Peter immerses himself into his enterprises and the quality of the work he produces, to say I was excited to learn Boundary Exception had at last released an LP would be a slight under statement.  My only regret is waiting a year to review it...so no time to lose...

Boundary Exception, like most projects under the Peter Hamer umbrella, comes off as a bit dark and brooding.  That is not a deterrent but rather a beacon of sorts, luring the listener like a sailor in rough seas chasing safe harbor...

My first selection from what promises to be a most rewarding week is a song called "Awake."  Michela "Micol" Speranzi's vocals are the smooth chocolate center of a baci di dama.  She rides the guitar beautifully and allows the bass to set a mood.  There are top notes of  Vuur running through the room, chased by aromatics of Ancient Bards.  Boundary Exception blends  gray hues with subtle pastels to produce an amazing canvas.

The next sound streaming through my headphones is "Last Goodbye."  As the guitar peels back the top layer of the song, I feel a surge of Mark Knopfler racing through my auditory canals.  Boundary Exception once again uses the dark to light up the room; Michela's vocals are as smooth as a pair of velvet slacks and the perfect foil to the metal-edged guitar and drum work hammering your skull lining with precision.


Liner Notes...Boundary Exception  hails from Turin, Italy and is fronted by the aforementioned Michela Speranzi on lead vocals.  She is joined by Michele Santoleri on drums and (of course) Peter Hamer on guitar.  Credits also include Giampiero Ulacco as mix and master engineer and Claudio Esposito the recording engineer.  The seeds for Boundary Exception were planted way back in 2015 when Peter reconnected with Michela, who immediately began working on songs and vocal tracks for the band.  Bringing his go-to drummer Michele into the fold all but made the debut album a foregone conclusion.  It took about 18 months; "Teardrops on a Blank Page" was released in January 2017...and worth every second of waiting.

Italian prog is generally of the ornate variety; big full sound, lots of imagery...basically a paint ball gun fired at a blank canvas and the resulting sound is usually either very good or very "different."  I don't recall any Italian prog bands I have been on the fence about.  Boundary Exception does not end that streak--Peter nailed it with this record, but of course it was not a solo effort. Michela's vocals along with Michele's drums work together to make "Teardrops on a Blank Page" a formidable first foray into the prog garden.

Learn more about Boundary Exception at PH Productions.  You will find the music--because I know you want to add to your prog library--at Boundary Exception bandcamp.  The album is also available on Amazon, iTunes, and other sites which can all be found here Boundary Exception Hyperurl.  Connect on Twitter @BoundaryExcept to stay informed on the important stuff...

For the listen-in this week I chose a teaser instead of an entire song with the intention of luring you to invest more than just your listening skills...Boundary Exception lets you taste the fruit with this almost two minute cocktail.  Go ahead, take the first sip; you'll be back to fill your glass...

And just like that 168 hours raced by...meanwhile we are just about another 24 hours from bidding ciao to January altogether.  It seems 2018 will be another fast-paced race around the sun...all the more reason to enjoy every step in the search for all things prog.  Boundary Exception shines a light on another side of Peter Hamer while exposing two more remarkable musicians making their way in the prog garden.  

There are so many facets to the prog genre which makes the search for all things prog that much more adventurous.  Boundary Exception is just one morsel served up at an exquisite buffet, and I for one am only too happy to try every course.  So time to take The Closet Concert Arena on another jaunt and see where we land...until next time...