Oh No It's Prog is a musical project by Italian Gianni Nicola, with additional hired musicians. At the age of 51 he decided that it was time to become a solo artist, inspired by his prog idols Genesis, King Crimson, Marillion, IQ and The Tangent. Gianni started a fundraising campaign on the Internet, this resulted in generating an amount of 730 euro, not a bad result. Happy Song: The first track starts with a Strawberry Fields Forever-like Mellotron flute, in a slow rhythm and featuring cheerful higher pitched female vocals (in decent English). A sensitive electric guitar solo gradually turns more heavy. Then a flashy Minimoog solo, in the 24-carat symphonic rock tradition. Early Morning Musings: A dreamy atmosphere with twanging guitar and warm female vocals. Then a bombastic eruption with howling electric guitar solo, it sounds dynamic. The Dream (a-Comfortably Sitting On The Toilet Seat, b-Through The Corridor, c-The Room, d-The Fight, e-See You Next Time): This epic composition contains lots of flowing shifting moods, embellished with fat synthesizer drops, moving guitar, dreamy flute, a subtle bluesy guitar solo, Minimoog flights, rock guitar, and subtle Fender electric piano. It builds to a wonderful bombastic final part featuring moving guitar and majestic Mellotron choirs. Taking A Stroll With Jethro: This track delivers dreamy twanging acoustic guitars and flute, a pleasant folky sound. Then a slow rhythm with tight drums. This is followed by a surprising jazzy Fender electric piano solo. Halfway a Minimoog solo with spectacular use of the pitchbend button. Finally soaring Hammond organ and delicate Fender piano, alongside fine work on the flute. Through The Corridor (alternative version from part 2 of The Dream). This short folky oriented piece contains twanging acoustic guitar, a melancholy cello sound and a Mellotron flute, it sounds tasteful, a kind of pastoral prog like, early Genesis. Gianna Nicola has made a pleasant album, in the Seventies symphonic rock tradition, with some nice own musical ideas, a tasteful effort, no more or less. *** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
