ALEX FALCONE - review added 6th November 2009
Album Review: Aphasia (2009)
For fans of: Progressive Rock... and Mika?
Aphasia is Italian keyboardist Alex Falcone's latest project. According to the man himself it has more of an American orientated sound than his other work. Alex has been performing for over 20 years and played with bands such as W.I.N.D., Heaven's Touch, Stargazer and Wasteland. He also performs in a Uriah Heep tribute act called Sweet Lorraine.
Aphasia features numerous guests singers and musicians from all over the world. The man himself plays all keys, and also cuts in with vocals and bass. Doogie White (Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen), James Christian (House Of Lords) and Luca Gasparini (Heaven's Touch) take care of the remaining vocals. Other notable includes are Kee Marcello (ex-Europe) on guitar, Alessandro Lotta (Rhapsody) on bass and James Thompson (Joe Cocker) on Saxophone.
The result has an interesting sound. It's obviously keyboard orientated, but there are plenty of hard rocking interludes and great sounding moments. The varying voices make the overall experience more like a compilation album than a cohesive piece of work, but it doesn't do too much to damage the ambience.
There's a lot of class built into Aphasia. The saxophone moments are superb and make me wonder why more rock songs don't use that most seductive of woodwind instruments. James Christian's and Doogie White's vocal wanderings approach the land of exceptional. Alessandro Lotta isn't shabby either. The keys vary between busy and confused to brilliant and inspiring. There really is something for everybody!
Song wise, 'Sail Away' is a tad gnarly and grumpy but mysterious too, Doogie White's 'Racin’ With The Spirits' is a cool retro rocker, the semi-theatrical 'Ridin’ On' is intriguing and deserves to be in a Terry Gilliam film, 'Why' is good, if overly busy in places, I love the 80's keyboard sounds of 'Emerald' - It sounds like a mad take on a Don Henley song. 'Alexander Graham Bell (The Sweet)' sounds uncannily like Mika's 'Grace Kelly' in places. Strictly speaking, though, I probably shouldn't know that... The science-fiction-orientated title track finishes the album in pure instrumental style and, weirdly, is probably the best entry on the album.
Interesting release this. It isn't brilliant, but it is kind of moorish. Lot's of good performances but the music is too busy to fully appreciate them. Apparently Aphasia II is already under development so keep an eye and an ear out...
Check out... The keyboard playing of course.
Track List:
01. Sunrise (Intro)
02. Heat
03. Guns In The Holsters
04. Sail Away
05. Racin’ With The Spirits
06. Ridin’ On
07. Why
08. Emerald
09. Angle Blue
10. Screamin’ For You
11. Alexander Graham Bell (The Sweet)
12. Aphasia
Label: Rock Royce
Artist's website(s): MySpace
