The Rocktologist – “The River” review

Review by: Rok Podgrajšek

Year: 2013
Produced by: Marco De Angelis
Label: Independent release

Tracks:
1. Radio (0:21)
2. Tell Me Why (5:21)
3. Black Stare (5:04)
4. One Love (5:21)
5. Snowbound (4:47)
6. Never Look Back (4;26)
7. Regrets (7:51)
8. This Time (6:31)
9. Take It Away (6:28)
10. What Do You Feel Now? (6:17)
11. Fly High (6:54)
12. Our Trail Of Tears (9:20)

With a ton of releases flooding us from all corners, it’s sometimes hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. It would have been easy for Marco De Angelis’s release, The River, to go by me unnoticed, however, whether by fortuitous coincidence or some other force, I was fortunate enough to hear it.

De Angelis is an Italian multi-instrumentalist, who created this album almost single-handedly, only helped on the fantastic vocal harmonies by several guest vocalists and a drummer.

De Angelis presents himself with a very slick art rock sound at first. The most impressive element are the vocal harmonies, where De Angelis utilises his guests to the maximum. He does build upon his sound gradually, with some sensual and effective guitar soloing, reminiscent of David Gilmour. Even the music takes on some Pink Floyd characteristics, particularly from their 80s and 90s period. Add to the mixture a dash of modern melody-driven (alternative) progressive rock and you’re faced with a very satisfying musical journey.

At the end of the day, the album has only positive values that can be attributed to it and all respect to Marco De Angelis for getting it right the first time. I’m sure this is only the start of his musical voyage and a sign of things to come.

8 out of 10