Neverdream
The Circle

Ominous whispers introduce a metallic instrumental progression that closes with the obsessive notes of a piano.

Immediately afterward, a disorienting sax opens the first chapter of this dark story, written, composed, and self-produced by the Lazio-based Neverdream, an interesting underground group.

Independent and choosing not to have a recording contract, they make their works freely available on the web.

The themes tackled in their previous albums were very challenging: drugs and marginalization; environmental disasters (Chernobyl); exploitation, poverty, and social conflicts (Africa); consequently, their music reflects this underlying "heaviness" and is certainly not easy-listening.

The new album “The Circle” maintains this expressive depth, improving the lyrical aspect.

The theme originates from a thriller-noir subject, whose ingredients are: religious fanaticism, sexual abuse, morbid family relationships, tormented loves, heinous murders; not exactly light material, which when set to music expresses its entire emotional charge through unconventional stylistic choices, such as the unusual use of the saxophone to break and often integrate the electric plot, considered the band's “trademark”.

Even the voice does not conform to the typical genre standards: very balanced, avoiding tonal excesses while remaining emotionally engaging; the female voice often duets with the singer, complementing the story's characters, and in the concluding magnificent tracks, we also find a great genre interpreter, Andy Kuntz from Vanden Plas.

The variety of styles used is remarkable, testimony to a great preparation and musical knowledge: metallic riffs, flashes of Italian progressive rock, orchestrations and choirs, poignant ballads, jazzy sessions characterize the twelve tracks, keeping the tension high for all 88 minutes.

“The Circle” is a very thoughtful and mature work, even complemented by a real short novel: eighty-seven tense pages by writer Maria Teresa Valle tell this murky story, drawn from the original subject by Gabriele Palmieri and Giorgio Massimi, respectively drummer and singer of the band.

Everything, audio, lyrics, and novel, is freely downloadable from the website, with the option to make a donation at one's discretion. It is also possible to purchase the double CD + Booklet, which I personally recommend, given the great quality expressed in this musical and literary project.

NB: in order to avoid accusations of partisanship, I would like to clarify that not being a music critic, I dedicate my attention only to albums that excite me, especially if they remain on the margins of the "mainstream"; I have no interest in promoting anyone.