Alex Carpani - The Good man - 2024
“... Carpani impresses with two long suites ...”
intro
Prog fans who have visited the ArtRock festival in Reichenbach (Germany) in recent years and had the opportunity to see the man live at work, have known for a long time that Alex Carpani is a very talented musician and composer, who can impress you in a live setting with varied keyboard parts and is also blessed with a good voice. Your reviewer looks back very positively on two editions of the festival where Alex Carpani made his appearance. Both concerts were fantastic. The overwhelming character of those concerts has now also been captured on his latest album. The new album "The Good Man", which consists only of two long suites, is convincing from the first to the last minute. This masterpiece is absolutely the best album I have heard from the man so far. The album was already released in December 2024, but due to my Blissy Design activities (all graphic expressions) for the new The Foundation album "Relations", my review work came to a complete standstill. But a review of this beautiful album should be on progVisions. I want like to thank Alex Carpani for the physical promo copy and his confidence in progVisions.
"The album is made of two epic suites and represents an uninterrupted story, an experience lived through the folds and fragilities of the human mind, through the infinite nuances of our emotions and feelings. Constantly poised and at the mercy of our limits and weaknesses, our lives are fueled by the strength of our passions and our incessant need to live, know and believe in something. The good man is nothing more than a tiny paper boat that floats, trying not to sink, in a boundless ocean, between storms and gigantic waves, without ever knowing its destination." (Alex Carpani)
line-up
Alex Carpani - lead & backing vocals, keyboards, virtual orchestra, drum machine, synth bass, virtual guitar; Bruno Farinelli - drums; Giambattista Giorgi - bass; Emiliano Fantuzzi - electric guitars; Alessio Alberghini - soprano sax; Valentina Vanini - mezzosoprano voice
"The Good Man" is compossed, arranged, orchestrated & produced by Alex Carpani.
review
The "The Good Man" album consists of two epic suites, each just over 28 minutes in length. The first suite is entitled "Amnesiac" (28:40) and consists of the following parts; "On A Train", "Perfect Chaos", "Flashbacks", "The Edge Of My Mind"' "Diamond In The Rough", "Past Life", "Heart Calling", "As Light Returns" and "End Of The Day". The nine parts of each of the suites flow seamlessly into each other so that you can listen to the tracks as one long epic song.
"On A Train" (02:10) opens with the unavoidable sound sample of a train thundering over the tracks with original soundscapes. The whole forms an intriguing instrumental opening that seamlessly transitions into the next part "Perfect Chaos" (04:41). This is an uptempo and heavy track in which the complex parts alternate with melodic parts that often have a catchy vocal chorus. Here you can hear Alex's vocal qualities well. In the shorter "Flashbacks" (1:30) beautiful use is made of sound samples and for the first time you hear the captivating mezzo-soprano voice of Valentina Vanini. "The Edge Of My Mind" (03:57) is again full of interesting keyboard sounds, and Alex provides the vocal parts alongside Valentina. The track is also full of fat keyboard parts and has the high intensity of the earlier "Perfect Chaos". In the next part "Diamond In The Rough" (01:55) there are more guitars alongside the fat keyboards. The transition to the next part "Past Life" (04:21) has a beautiful virtual (keyboard) orchestration. But the beautiful melodies really come into their own through the mezzo-soprano voice of Valentina Vanini, which also provides a necessary moment of rest. Because in the next part "Heart Calling" (02:51) Alex thunders over you again with fat keyboards and catchy vocals. The tempo then slows down a bit with beautiful melodic Soprano sax playing by Alessio Alberghini in "As Light Returns" (03:42). To combine the soprano sax with the mezzo-soprano voice is a good find. The "Amnesiac" suite concludes in style with the part "End Of The Day" (04:41). Everything comes together here and Valentina Vanini enchants us once more with beautiful vocal melodies. The fact that the sound sample of the train returns here briefly is very fitting because in the past half hour Alex Carpani has thundered over you in an overwhelming way with the first suite "Amnesiac". I would buy the album just for this intriguing suite.
The second suite is entitled "Good And Evil" (28:24) and consists of the following parts; "Lost Frequencies", "The Flow"' "P.T.S.D.", "Stillness And Ecstasy", "Flirting With The Darkness", "Mystical", "Leaving The Path", "Masquerade" and "Everything Falls Into Place". The nine parts flow seamlessly into each other so that you can listen to the track as one long epic song.
"Good And Evil" (28:24) opens with some radio samples in "Lost Frequencies" (0:57). The opening of "The Flow" (04:13) has those wonderfully wide keyboard strings, and the sax brings some extra jazzy accents to this song-like track. The next part "P.T.S.D." (03:32) has a more melodic opening with those classical influences of the mezzo-soprano vocals. But gradually those wide keyboard orchestrations return. The music is very compact and crammed. So the next "Stillness And Ecstasy" (02:15) is a breath of fresh air with the melodious female voice. You hear the most beautiful melodies again. In "Flirting With Darkness" (04:11) the band goes all out again. The vocal parts that are very strong, however, always remain melodious and catchy. Alex seems to be singing better and better. "Mystical" (05:39) has some church atmospheres that are even better brought out by the beautiful church organ keyboard parts. In this song you can hear the mezzo-soprano voice again. An intriguing part that seamlessly transitions into the parts "Leaving The Path" (01:52) and "Masquerade" (02:42) where the sax returns and is combined with guitar. And all that on a carpet of broad keyboard sounds. Before you know it, we have already arrived at the last part. "Everything Falls Into Plays" (03:09) ends atmospherically with sound samples and ambient atmospheres.
conclusion
Because the music of the second suite "Good And Evil" is mainly uptempo and rather compact and intense, it is a bit more tiring to listen to than the first suite "Amnesiac". There are less resting points and less variation than in the "Amnesiac" suite. On the other hand, "Good And Evil" sounds more like a whole. I myself slightly prefer the first suite, but just listen to this fantastic album and decide for yourself which one is your favorite. This does not take away from the fact that "The Good Man" is a masterpiece by Alex Carpani. It is the best album I have heard by Alex Carpani. And that is why "The Good Man" is heartily recommended by progVisions.