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SEALED; GEPETTO - Awaiting Madre digipak cd Barcode 3426300103017 Cover: Thibaud Format: CD January 15, 2024
Studio Album, released in 2024 superb informative review below
A little historical reminder, GEPETTO is the project of George PINILLA, composer, Franco-Spanish singer, self-taught multi-instrumentalist musician and seller of progressive rock by mail order since 1986. He has been playing for twenty-five years in a seventies cover band from BORDEAUX & began composing demos in 2005 for what would become GEPETTO. Its influences start from the BEATLES to encompass all "bisecular" progressive music from 1966 to 2023, to which a hint of Latin music must be attached.
GEPETTO's first two records, "From Heaven to the Stars" in
2016 and "Evolutive Songs" in 2020 were reviewed on
profilprog.com (the second with an interview with the principal
concerned), all listeners can therefore reread them to satiation. The
new album "Awaiting Madre" tells of the very good
relationship that George had with his mother who died during
recording at the ripe old age of 97 and to which the album is
logically dedicated.
For this "Awaiting Madre" let's first talk about the format
chosen, two long suites of twenty-five and twenty-six minutes,
nothing more "stunning" in musical terms because even more
attention is required from the modest chronicler that I am (and
others obviously) to listen and dissect what George and his traveling
companions wanted to produce. The chronicle of the previous album was
much easier without a doubt.
"Awaiting" and the language of SHAKESPEARE to begin with, a
mid tempo sung by Chris PALMER of which we will remember the slightly
jazzy passage of the third minute which opens the way to the first
guitar solo of newcomer Pascal AGARD, before a clear WEST inspiration
COAST (POCO comes to my ears from 4:23 to 5:55) even if it is not
voluntary, then a pianistic and keyboard digression (moog solo)
organized by Luis PUENTE (director of the IRUN conservatory) who was
him already present on "Evolutive Songs". At 7:04 and until
9:32 GEPETTO is clearly eyeing CSNY, before a more energetic takeoff
(six strings and piano) which takes us until 12:45, the the most
becoming, the most musically beautiful, the most successful part of
this first suite with Mister AGARD in pole position. Calm from 2:47
p.m., voice/piano/acoustic guitars and twelve strings, it's calm and
beautiful, almost religious! and we leave for a more nervous finale
at 16:53, sassy piano and incisive six strings, flute sampled at
18:38 with the support of Tiphaine RIVIERE's bass guitar before
Pascal AGARD arrives again to perform a great solo class until 8:20
p.m.; the final part of the piece is much calmer, vocals/acoustic
guitar/backing vocals/piano/mellotron/bells and the ticking of a
watch as a conclusion.
What's happening ? The ticking of the watch continues from the start
of "Madre" (the first thirty seconds) then continues with
bucolic guitars and keyboards (the mellotron is just ad hoc) until
3:25 then the rhythm picks up. speeds up, it's a party in the village
with a superb flamenco passage (the origins of the boss stand out and
the great TRIANA with it), George's singing in Spanish is calm and
relaxing, at 7:00 the sarabande starts and unfolds between neo,
sympho and Andalusian (at least the originality is there), GEPETTO
stands out as a different formation. It is in my opinion the most
important, far from the usual standards that we can encounter, the
instrumental passage which begins at 13 :50 is worthy of the heyday
of symphonic progressive, no less, with an ultra-lyrical guitar
sitting on a very elaborate carpet of synthesizers. George takes the
floor again at 5:30 p.m. for a finale with an acoustic- symphonic
connotation of infinite beauty which once again highlights a
galloping and melodic electric six-string at the same time, listen,
it's simply magnificent. The concluding theme on the piano and the
mellotron allows a gentle end accompanied by the swift guitar which
follows us since the start of the album.
A great success to be credited to GEPETTO, as was the case for the
two previous records.
Original review published at : profilprogdotcom
Tracks Listing
1. Awaiting (25:00)
2. Mother (26:00)
Total Time 51:00
Musicians
- George Pinilla / backing vocals (1), vocals and backing vocals (2),
bass (2), guitars (electric lead and rhythm, folk, twelve strings and
classical nylon), synths, organ, piano and Mellotron
With:
- Laurent Simonnet / keyboards and piano (2)
- Luis Puente / piano and Moog synth (1)
- Stephan Granjeon / drums and percussion
- Pascal Agard / guitar lead Tiphaine Rivière, bass (1)
- Julien Pinilla / final vibraphone (2)
- Chris Palmer / vocals (1)
- Pilar Pinilla Valencia / final voice "la jota navarra"(2)
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