4Front
Radio Waves Goodbye

4Front
Radio Waves Goodbye
2001 Spec Records

Instrumental album dating back to 2001, but even listening to it today it has quite an effect.
First of all, it must be said that the musicians in this project are at a very high level,
in fact, just listening to the first track, a little over a minute long, is enough to realize it.
We start with Airtime, a short track with an airy sound of progressive rock imprint,
which immediately reveals a certain musical quality.
Track 2 Tunnel Vision, gives us the confirmation we were feeling, a wonderful track with great balance
between the instruments, guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums seem to converse with each other.
In Hideway, an acoustic and folk part emerges, with a dreamy melody with a country flavor.
We arrive at Special Patrol Group, a piece with a heavy riff full of groove and a sustained rhythm.
In the midst of this track, there's an excellent guitar solo; so far, the track lengths don't tire
the listening, and this is a good sign.
Now comes a surprise, the only sung piece of the album, and it is a cover of the sublime David Bowie.
It is Space Oddity, here renamed Space Oddity 2001, which I also gladly appreciated as
a sung part.
For Burial at Sea there is a majestic symphonic carpet that mixes with prog rock parts, a very
melancholic track of the right length.
Now let's move on to Fuse, an excellent piece this time mixing hard rock riffs and funk, very nice to listen to.
In Learning to Crawl, a saxophone solo emerges, which duets with the guitar in a jazz fusion language.
Then about halfway through comes a completely rock blues guitar solo, excellent in sound that reminded me of
Steve Lukather from Toto.
The end of this track fades out and is entrusted to the jazzy phrasing of the saxophone.
Now it's time for 747, a very fast jazz rock track, which again highlights excellent guitar and saxophone phrases.
Now comes Memories of Kansas, a very rhythmically slow-moving symphonic rock piece with great melody, in my
opinion, a wonderful track.
So here we have a truly remarkable piece, namely Descent.
Another track of great instrumental mastery, great rhythm, airy melodies, and a true master of the six-string guitar solo, this track truly amazes.
The last track Radio Waves Goodbye brings this wonderful album to a close with class and elegance.
Basically, it's a symphonic rock track, as heard previously.
In conclusion, what can I say?
Surely a refined and classy product that mixes progressive rock, jazz fusion, and symphonic rock, played brilliantly by expert musicians.
It is worth mentioning the musicians: on drums Joe Bergamini, a real ace of the instrument.
On bass Frank LaPlaca, impeccable and with great mastery.
On guitar, keyboards, and vocals (in the Bowie cover) Zak Rizvi, masterful is an understatement.
I recommend listening to this album to lovers of real music.

review by Angelowar6