Not A Good Sign
From A Distance

New work for Not A Good Sign, a talented Italian new-prog group formed by members of Yugen (Paolo “Ske” Botta on keyboards and Francesco Zago on guitar, the latter having left after the recordings of the new album and replaced by Gian Marco Trevisan). Later, elements from La Coscienza Di Zeno also joined (bassist Gabriele Guidi Colombi, however absent here, and the talented singer Alessio Calandriello). “From a Distance”, this is the title of the album released by Fading Records/AltrOck - a label always attentive to new Italian productions in the new-prog field - confirms the freshness and undeniable depth of their sound. Not A Good Sign draws from '70s prog but not in a calligraphic and sometimes sterile way like some other Italian groups. You can certainly hear the influence of King Crimson, but also new-prog groups like Echolyn, Anglagard, and Anekdoten, but everything is reinterpreted with a distinct personal and modern sensibility. There are no long suites but rather short and condensed tracks. The initial “Wait for Me” is immediately incisive and rhythmic with evident references to the great Echolyn. In the following “Going Down”, calm and melancholic, the excellent and refined work of Paolo “Ske” Botta on keyboards emerges - crucial in the sound's makeup - while Alessio Calandriello confirms himself as an excellent voice. In “Flying Over Cities” the sumptuous sounds of the keyboards shine again along with Francesco Zago's nervous and “Frippian” guitars. “Not Now” begins with the sounds of an oboe and continues with continuous tempo changes. “Aru Hi No Yoru Deshita” is a classical interlude. It resumes with the “Crimsonian” “Pleasure of Drowning”, a very hard track that reminded me of something from “Red”. “I Feel Like Snowing” proceeds calmly - up to a guitar break - with beautiful sounds from the vibraphone and piano and Calandriello’s intense voice and reminded me of certain Anekdoten. “Open Window” is dark and dramatic, again “Crimsonian” in this aspect. It closes with “The Diary I Never Wrote”, epic and with an irresistible melody and the brief “Farewell”. In my opinion, we are faced with a very high-level album. I strongly feel like recommending “From a Distance” to progsters but not only.