Marcangelo Perricelli

The 1st studio album from CPSW released in 2019

Rick Catanese - Bass

Michael Soro - Guitars, Vocals

Marcangelo Perricelli - Keyboards, Vocals

Keith Welch - Drums

The 2nd album from CPSW released in 2021

Rick Catanese - Bass

Michael Soro - Guitars

Marcangelo Perricelli - Keyboards, Vocals

Keith Welch - Drums

Marcangelo Perricelli's progressive music history starts with his joining forces with Bob Piper to form Pleiades, a band who released a single recording "A Moment of Clarity". Following that, Perricelli formed a symphonic progressive trio called Navigator before becoming a solo artist with the release of 3 EP's in 2006. Two of these EPs are in the new age genre with It's Only Me being fully a progressive rock release.

Perricelli's earlier history includes gold and platinum awards for songwriting with the internationally famous "Kool and The Gang". Prior to all this musical success, he spent six years in record retail managing a record store and 15 years in the record business with the TimeWarner Record group.

All instruments, All Vocals

Written, recorded and produced by Marcangelo Perricelli

It doesn't take all that long to decide which context to place this band in, at least as they appear in 2014. Opening epic length creation Life doesn't use all that long to present us with sounds, moods and atmospheres that reminds perhaps more than a little bit of classic 80's era Marillion, and while they don't hone in and focus on that particular sound throughout the material remains accessible, compelling and melodic throughout the album. Initially with something of a typical neo-progressive vibe to it, but also with gentler details reminding of bands like Camel and some spirited keyboard maneuvers that at least for me makes me think of late 70's and early 80's Eloy. Third track Burned is a tighter, harder edged excursion into those realms, with a classic and compelling guitar riff and organ combination leading the way, in this case with less of a direct comparison at hand in terms of references for me, and the following instrumental Beautiful River is another somewhat harder for me to give a direct reference on to any specific band. This latter also comes across as a creation that, at least to some extent, heralds a change on this production as a whole.

The second half of this CD, starting with Now That You're Gone, presents us with a band that appears to know their way around the various phases of progressive rock giants Genesis. In three compositions they explore quite nicely some of the typical moods and atmospheres fans of Genesis will find to be intimately familiar, albeit void of the complexities and more focused on staying compelling and accessible. The epic length title track Phantom Ships also includes sections sporting more intricate keyboard arrangements however, of a kind an nature that should please also the more dedicated fans of old school symphonic progressive rock. This latter crowd should, presumably, also appreciate the inclusion of a nifty, dramatic classical symphonic orchestra interlude around the halfway stage of this creation. Final song Rinascimento isn't quite as striking, a dual acoustic guitar piece, calm and well controlled, but it functions quite nicely as a relaxing lead-out marking the end of the journey we have partaken.

Those fond of accessible, melodic progressive rock should have a field day with this album. Perhaps not a production that will be heralded for it's novel take on progressive rock, nor one that will be chosen as an example of a band treading new ground or breaking genre conventions, but if solid, quality compelling progressive rock in the manner of bands such as Fish-era Marillion, IQ and Pendragon is what you're looking for, Navigator will provide you with just that on this album.

Marcangelo Perricelli – Keyboards, Lead Vocals

Michael Soro – Guitars

Rick Catanese – Bass

Rob Thurman – Drums, Lead Vocals

Friday, March 25, 2016

Review by Windhawk

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