Drops by Mad Crayon
Mad Crayon
Alessandro Di Benedetti - Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
Daniele Agostinelli - Keyboards and Vocals
Federico Tetti - Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals
Daniele Vitalone - Bass, Guitars and Keyboards
With:
Nicolas Bonneyrat - Drums
Max Saidi - Drums
Giovanni Maucieri - Drums
Chris Brush - Drums
Nicole Carino - Backing Vocals
Tracklist
| 1. | A Sort of Incoming | 3:55 |
| 2. | Bloody Days | 6:01 |
| 3. | Where You Cannot Lie | 9:16 |
| 4. | The Ape | 9:50 |
| 5. | Evening Comes | 4:38 |
| 6. | Disturbed Love | 2:52 |
| 7. | Down the Trench | 9:00 |
| 8. | Mad Crayon Run | 6:04 |
| 9. | The Glitter of Your Life | 6:10 |
| 10. | Way Out | 1:46 |
Credits
released December 11, 2020
Recorded 2019-2020
Mixed and Mastered by Federico Tetti
Cover Art by Daniele "Don Zauker" Agostinelli
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Drops is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term."
For one or two this might be a big surprise. The MAD CRAYON story already started in the mid 1980's. Apart from a demo cassette production they later on recorded three albums by the year 2009. And now, totally unexpected, after not less than 11 years, another new one appears with a bang. It's my first contact with the crew, and what sort of attractiveness!
The band's core still is comprised of a stable quartet, namely Alessandro Di Benedetti, Daniele Agostinelli, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone, taking care of the guitar, bass and keyboard instruments. Eh, invited, arrested, obliged, convinced, or whatever :-) somewhat unusual, all in all four different drummers are involved in the recordings. Anyway, this is a very worthwhile effort!
Great variety is assured, due to symphonic, folk, pop, ambient, psychedelic and heavy rock elements merged together to something coherent.
Hence musically they are delivering some fine progressive art rock here. Lyrics are predominantly in English, but not all the way through. Thus a slight Rock Progressivo Italiano flair is given here at least.
The band's kick-off is dominated by Vitalone's ambient synth pattern flow. Yeah, just A Sort of Incoming actually, garnered with some samples. Very melancholic.
Due to a catchy refrain Bloody Days then follows more as an art pop song. But it's also somewhat reminiscent to Peter Hammill, I'd say. At least three of the musicians are sharing the vocal task, on top comes some proper female backing.
On Where You Cannot Lie Tetti's slight accent is really striking, in a positive meaning. A tricky composition, nice piano lines everywhere, comfortable synths, wonderful short guitar solo. In summary: brilliant!
The Ape is hurrying without having vocals in the luggage furthermore, underway in the jungle on groovy and restless paths and Brian Auger reminiscent organ appearance.
Disturbed Love showcases them with a hybrid, heavy outbursts and subtle charm are alternating.
The Mad Crayon Run is offered in a very busy and colourful manner, I mean the tricky and heavy rocking behaviour. While playing together for more than thirty years in this constellation they eventually have abandoned the idea of making money by selling records. The desire to reach a high number of listeners with their music still stays though, as you can see, and hear.
Fortunately! During round about 60 minute playing time they are delivering melodic and atmospheric songs, absolutely appealing. Bravo, 4.5 stars so far, though 'Drops' is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term.
Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE Team & Band Submissions
Progarchives.com
A Sort of Incoming (3 54)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Bloody Days (6 01)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli, Nicole Carino
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Where You Cannot Lie (9 14)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Vocals and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano and Backing Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Phone Voice Enrica Dionigi
Drums Chris Brush
The Ape (9 49)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Bass, Keyboards, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Guitars Federico Tetti
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Evening Comes (4 36)
(music and lyrics: Daniele Agostinelli)
Keyboards and Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Giovanni Giò Maucieri
Backing Vocals Elara Marucci
Disturbed Love (2 52)
(music: Federico Tetti)
Guitars and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Keyboards Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Max Saidi
Down the Trench (9 00)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Mad Crayon Run (6 04)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Bass, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
The Glitter of Your Life (6 09)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals Federico Tetti
Piano and E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Maz Saidi
Way Out (1 46)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Recorded 2019-2020
Mixed and Mastered by Federico Tetti
Cover Art by Daniele "Don Zauker" Agostinelli
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Drops is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term."
For one or two this might be a big surprise. The MAD CRAYON story already started in the mid 1980's. Apart from a demo cassette production they later on recorded three albums by the year 2009. And now, totally unexpected, after not less than 11 years, another new one appears with a bang. It's my first contact with the crew, and what sort of attractiveness!
The band's core still is comprised of a stable quartet, namely Alessandro Di Benedetti, Daniele Agostinelli, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone, taking care of the guitar, bass and keyboard instruments. Eh, invited, arrested, obliged, convinced, or whatever :-) somewhat unusual, all in all four different drummers are involved in the recordings. Anyway, this is a very worthwhile effort!
Great variety is assured, due to symphonic, folk, pop, ambient, psychedelic and heavy rock elements merged together to something coherent.
Hence musically they are delivering some fine progressive art rock here. Lyrics are predominantly in English, but not all the way through. Thus a slight Rock Progressivo Italiano flair is given here at least.
The band's kick-off is dominated by Vitalone's ambient synth pattern flow. Yeah, just A Sort of Incoming actually, garnered with some samples. Very melancholic.
Due to a catchy refrain Bloody Days then follows more as an art pop song. But it's also somewhat reminiscent to Peter Hammill, I'd say. At least three of the musicians are sharing the vocal task, on top comes some proper female backing.
On Where You Cannot Lie Tetti's slight accent is really striking, in a positive meaning. A tricky composition, nice piano lines everywhere, comfortable synths, wonderful short guitar solo. In summary: brilliant!
The Ape is hurrying without having vocals in the luggage furthermore, underway in the jungle on groovy and restless paths and Brian Auger reminiscent organ appearance.
Disturbed Love showcases them with a hybrid, heavy outbursts and subtle charm are alternating.
The Mad Crayon Run is offered in a very busy and colourful manner, I mean the tricky and heavy rocking behaviour. While playing together for more than thirty years in this constellation they eventually have abandoned the idea of making money by selling records. The desire to reach a high number of listeners with their music still stays though, as you can see, and hear.
Fortunately! During round about 60 minute playing time they are delivering melodic and atmospheric songs, absolutely appealing. Bravo, 4.5 stars so far, though 'Drops' is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term.
Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE Team & Band Submissions
Progarchives.com
A Sort of Incoming (3 54)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Bloody Days (6 01)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli, Nicole Carino
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Where You Cannot Lie (9 14)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Vocals and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano and Backing Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Phone Voice Enrica Dionigi
Drums Chris Brush
The Ape (9 49)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Bass, Keyboards, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Guitars Federico Tetti
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Evening Comes (4 36)
(music and lyrics: Daniele Agostinelli)
Keyboards and Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Giovanni Giò Maucieri
Backing Vocals Elara Marucci
Disturbed Love (2 52)
(music: Federico Tetti)
Guitars and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Keyboards Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Max Saidi
Down the Trench (9 00)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
Mad Crayon Run (6 04)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Bass, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat
The Glitter of Your Life (6 09)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals Federico Tetti
Piano and E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Maz Saidi
Way Out (1 46)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone
License
All rights reserved.
Drops is the new album from the band Mad Crayon. Formed since 1986, they have released four albums and a number of collaborations for various progressive projects. Known throughout the world as one of the most interesting Italian prog bands since the 90s.