Nad Sylvan
The Bride Said No

Steve Hackett, Roine Stolt, Tony Levin, Jonas Reingold, Nick D’Virgilio... all together like this, they have never been seen. Is that enough for you to take a peek at this new album by Nad Sylvan?
I think so.

Album from 2017, the latest to date by the multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been accompanying Steve Hackett for a few years as a singer on tours and in the studio for the Genesis Revisited project, this "The Bride Said No" (La sposa ha detto no), revisits some themes from the previous work which were inspired by stories of vampires ("Courting The Widow").
This work by Sylvan is of good quality, where the undeniable reminiscences of Genesis from the Gabriel era are combined with funk and heavy rock atmospheres, along with symphonic elements typical of Broadway.
A modernized prog sound, very pleasant, where Nad's beautiful voice merges with the excellent musicians present, whom we have already listed at the beginning.
In an interview, Nad stated: "Musically COURTING THE WIDOW was much closer to the '70s atmospheres, which in this new album are just hinted at. In THE BRIDE SAID NO there is a much more current and varied sound. One could almost say that it is much closer to musical theater than to anything else. I've tried to bring out even more of my soul."
Listening to the record, you get this positive impression of linearity in composition, while still within the best prog's framework.

"Bridesmaids" is a brief instrumental introduction.

Immediately following is "The Quartermaster," a successful mix between Genesis prog and more current rock. Often Nad Sylvan’s voice approaches that of Peter Gabriel but, and this is a positive aspect, without trying to imitate him, always adding something personal.

"When The Music Dies" (in honor of the great musicians who have recently passed away) is dark at just the right level.

We see the more symphonic Genesis reappear in "The White Crown" which also features some experimental influences from the Gentle Giant.

"What Have You Done" is a fascinating ballad halfway between the romantic and the symphonic (beautiful duet between Nad and the Swedish singer Jade Ell) offering us Floydian atmospheres and two splendid guitar solos played by none other than Steve Hackett and Guthrie Govan. Perhaps the best track on the album.

Nad's splendid voice is enriched by Hackett's and Stolt's guitars in the beautiful "Crime Of Passion" that follows.

With "A French Kiss In An Italian Café" we have an excellent Tony Levin on bass and an atmosphere that somewhat recalls the tours with Hackett.

The musical journey closes with the title track, a mini-suite of over 12 minutes that brings back certain atmospheres of the prog's golden age. Arrangements and textures of sounds and voices embellish this track, which elegantly closes a beautiful, enjoyable, and imaginative album without ever being pretentious.

Recommended for prog lovers.