Alex Argento
EGO

The so-called hidden gems... They must be sought (searched) and found, because quite often one might come across pleasant surprises; and that's what happened to me not long ago while surfing that virtual sea called the internet.

Always in search of excellent compositions, I stumble upon the first (and last for now) album release of this talented keyboardist from Palermo who goes by the name of Alex Argento; from the information available I learn that the artist in question is completely self-taught, having composed, produced, arranged, advertised, and distributed everything on his own. Assuming that I infinitely respect individuals of this genre/type, I then become aware of his collaborations (further increasing my respect for him) with musicians like Rob Rock, but more importantly, I find out that he played the keyboards on the latest Spaced Out album, which I am crazy about.

We thus arrive at the album: a work of fine craftsmanship where metal, fusion, progressive rock, and a slight romantic vein, blend perfectly; a crystalline and notably lengthy sound mix where everything is in its place. The rhythm guitar (Petrucci school) merges perfectly in a blend of light and dynamic guitar solos, a chameleon-like bass that rides well on every type of "terrain" and whose sound is superbly rendered by excellent production, delicate and aggressive "keyboard work" (often with a guitar-like approach), always present, yet never intrusive (one should highlight the composer's polycentric tendency); all of this is chiseled by a spectacular prog/fusion-style drum.

In conclusion, the album should be listened to deeply and several times, otherwise, one risks misinterpreting Alex's work, considering it to be derived from Planet X's music (which happened to me), while instead, his offering is quite personal; a round of applause also goes to all the musicians who collaborated with him, for their taste and style. Excellent production, go Alex, until next time.