Nick Bradey
Superb set from masters of Italian progressive rock. Well worth detailed evaluation. Any release involving these musicians cannot be ignored.
Favorite track: At The Gates Of Tomorrow.
More than ten years ago, in 2002, La Maschera di Cera released their first album, a record with an evident homage to the classic Italian Progressive Rock of the ‘70s, always taking care of the songwriting, managing the difficult task of creating something that has its roots in the past but it’s personal, inventive and passionate at the same time. Here lies the originality of the MDC-sound.
After a decade, four successful albums and concerts played all around the globe, La Maschera di Cera close the circle proposing an album that is the sum of all the Italian Prog homage matter. The band has in fact decided to write the continuation of the “Felona and Sorona” concept (Le Orme, 1973), a record that is unanimously considered a masterpiece, as well as a milestone in the world progressive rock scene.
What pushed the group to dive into an adventure that offers great satisfaction on one hand, but can also be rugged and full of unexpected surprises and criticism on the other, is simply the desire to get involved, to try to do what no one has never done before, to actualize a discourse that began forty years ago and still offers artistic ideas to think about. The original concept is in fact a universal story of diversity and inequality that stays – perhaps on purpose? – unresolved at the end of the LP, thus leaving space for an inspired continuation and conclusion, clearly filtered through MDC’s point of view.
Musically, the band deepen their relationship with vintage sounds, but bring everything to a more actualized dimension, while lyrically the concept addresses the struggle between the two planets, one light and one dark; a fight that will only be resolved by two lovers from the two different worlds and by the otherworldly intervention of the deity that protects them.
“Le Porte del Domani” (The Doors of Tomorrow) contains a 45-minute suite in nine parts and is released by AMS Records. The cover artwork has been made by Lanfranco, the same author of the original “Felona and Sorona” painting and who kindly gave the band the permission to use his 1968 opus “Gli Amanti del Sogno” (The Dream’s Lovers).
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La Maschera Di Cera ha pubblicato il suo primo album esattamente dieci anni fa, nel 2002, un omaggio a certo prog italiano degli Anni Settanta che però ha sempre messo in primo piano l’aspetto compositivo, riuscendo nel difficile tentativo di creare qualcosa che ha radici nel passato ma allo stesso tempo è personale, inventivo e passionale. In questo risiede l’originalità del ‘suono MDC’.
La Maschera Di Cera chiude oggi il cerchio proponendo un album che è l’apoteosi e summa di tutto il discorso legato all’omaggio al progressive italiano: il gruppo ha infatti deciso di continuare la saga dei due pianeti di “Felona e Sorona” (Le Orme, 1973), disco riconosciuto come un capolavoro assoluto e uno dei capisaldi del prog mondiale.
Il gruppo qui si mette completamente in gioco, provando a fare ciò che nessuno ha mai fatto prima, attualizzando un discorso iniziato quarant’anni fa e che ancora offre spunti artistici sui quali riflettere. Il concept originario è infatti una storia universale di diversità e ineguaglianza rimasta – forse volutamente? – irrisolta alla fine del disco, lasciando così lo spazio ad una ispirata continuazione e conclusione, realizzata chiaramente nell’ottica della Maschera Di Cera.
Il concept, una suite di 45′ divisa in nove capitoli, affronta la lotta tra i due pianeti, uno luminoso e l’altro buio. Lotta che si risolverà grazie a due amanti provenienti dai due mondi e all’intervento ultraterreno della divinità che li protegge. La copertina del disco è stata curata personalmente da Lanfranco, il pittore che creò il dipinto originale di “Felona e Sorona” e che ha messo gentilmente a disposizione del gruppo la sua opera del 1968 “Gli amanti del sogno”.
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“Le Porte del Domani” is released in two different versions; Italian version and English version (the second one has a slightly different mix).
Le Porte del Domani” esce in edizione italiana e inglese (quest'ultima con un missaggio leggermente diverso).
supported by 7 fans who also own “The Gates Of Tomorrow”
This might be the least folky of the Wobbler releases and I wasn't sure about it at all.
After a few listens however I'm loving the inventiveness and the endless melodies, all driven along by Kristian Hultgren's wonderful percussive bass. PartTimeZombie
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Gates Of Tomorrow”
Some fantastic prog tunes.
The main course here consists of two epics: "Imperial Winter White" & "In Taberna" are incredibly bombastic, beautiful, and unpredictable. They feel a bit unorganized/overwhelming at times, but they are far from boring.
It's worth mentioning the smaller tracks as well; though they don't compare to the two epics, they are still pleasant in their own right and serve as nice breathers, so-to-speak. aFriendlyBullet
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Gates Of Tomorrow”
Thanks to the nice-endof-year-offer I came to fill this gap in my private worm collection (a, pardon me, worm hole, so to speak :-))
Wonderful reminiscence to many good things past (Canterbury, 70s prog, folk rock) with a good sense of humour and great ideas (both in the songwriting & in the arrangements) . Carsten Pieper