After
Locanda delle Fate’s split up in 1980, the band’s keyboardist
Michele Conta completed his medical studies and focused his energies
on his career of physician. Anyway, his passion for music didn’t
die and after a long time he pulled out of the drawer some of the
pieces he composed during the years and gave a definite shape to his
sketches with the help of sound engineer and arranger Simone
Lampedone and guitarist Ermanno Brignolo. After a long, passionate
work in 2019 he finally released a solo album, entitled Endless
Nights, on the independent label AMS Records. Along with Michele
Conta (piano, keyboards) and Ermanno Brignolo (guitars, vocals) the
recording sessions involved many guest musicians such as Max
Arminchiardi (guitar), Gianni Branca (drums), Gavin Harrison (drums),
Lele Melotti (drums), Segio Pescara (drums), Gianni Cicogna (bass),
Effe Quartet (strings) and Leonard Plumbini (cello). The result is
absolutely worth listening to...
The
instrumental opener “E’ nell’aria” (It’s in the air) begins
by the sound of a storm in the background and a dynamic piano solo
passage, then the other instruments come in bringing a change in
rhythm and atmosphere. It’s an excellent piece that mixes frenzied,
heavy electric guitar riffs with calmer, dreamy sections dominated by
piano and keyboards and that could recall the old pieces of Locanda
delle Fate with an updated sound...
“With
You On The Walk Of My Life” is a calm, romantic track featuring
English lyrics about the importance of a long lasting relationship
and the good luck you have finding someone who can help you in times
of trouble, support your dreams or simply hug you when you come back
home. It’s another track that recalls Locanda delle Fate but the
vocals in my opinion are not completely up to the task... Then it’s
the turn of the dreamy “Notte infinita” (Endless night), another
excellent instrumental track that alternates delicate, relaxed
atmospheres with more livelier moments and soaring keyboards
flights...
The
following “Growin’ Up” takes us back to the times of Locanda
delle Fate. In fact, this is a new version of an old track of the
band, “Crescendo”, that was not included in the 1977 album Forse
le lucciole non si amano più and was not officially recorded in
studio until 2012. The lyrics deal with the passion for rock music
and the experience of being part of a band... In a rehearsal room the
notes of the instruments are like atoms moving in a perfect chaos
that match, crash and collide providing an incredible energy.
Unfortunately, again the vocal parts sung in English are not up to
the beauty of the music and I miss Leonardo Sasso’s operatic
exuberance.
The
reflective, melodic “In riva al mondo” (On the shore of the
world) starts by a sound of church bells, the nocturnal atmosphere is
calm. The music and lyrics (in Italian) evoke visions and memories
inspired by the view of a sleepy city from the window of a room, in
the middle of the night...
 |
| Michele Conta, 2019 |
“Fiori
nascosti” (Hidden flowers) ends the album alternating a first part
characterized by a soft, mellow mood with a more varied second part
where there are sudden surges of rhythm and joyful flights of notes.
The short vocal part (in English) invites you to look around and
start searching for the beautiful things that are so close to you but
the hectic rhythm of live can hide from your sight... You’d better
find them before it’s too late!
On
the whole, a good work with a strong nostalgic vein.
You
can listen to the complete album HERE
Michele
Conta: Endless Nights (2019). Other opinions:
Nick
Hudson: Conta has given us a lush, symphonic album deliciously
reminiscent of the classic days of ‘70s Italian prog, without
sounding stale or dated, and allows the other players on his album
room and space to elevate this beyond the stereotypical keyboard
album... (Read the complete review HERE)
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