Brave New Worlds
Review 2021
"Brave New Worlds" is an album completely out of time. Indeed, if you listen to just half a song on the radio or take a quick look at the international charts, you immediately realize that the progressive rock tinged with electronics crafted by Fabio Armani, Andrea Fenili, and Luciano Masala is truly something different. This fact alone, we must confess, instantly won our sympathy for a work which, while not without flaws, displays many interesting aspects.
Let’s start with what works. One of the strongest moments is "From the Past", the third track — an excellent ride that captures the essence of the album: the depiction of a future both fascinating and unsettling. In this piece, the three musicians succeed in fully expressing their artistic vision, with arrangements that are never mere ornamentation. Another highlight is "Another Sea", another showcase of skill, and overall there is a strong sense of confidence in their abilities.
But not everything works perfectly, right? One aspect we appreciated less is that, although the power trio deliberately avoids current trends, they occasionally fall back into certain progressive clichés — for example, overly baroque orchestrations that feel somewhat self-indulgent. With a bit of trimming and perhaps a couple fewer tracks, the album could have been sharper and more direct.
Nevertheless, overall, this is a good work and shows that, even if it’s no longer truly fashionable, progressive rock — like an underground river — is still alive, powerful, and visionary as ever.
