Alessandro di Benedetti, keyboardist with Mad Crayon and collaborator on a number of projects, has been releasing albums under his Inner Prospekt project for nine years now, and is a personal favourite of this website. Last year’s Grey Origin was superb, and you can read my review by clicking on the button below.
2023 sees Alessandro release the third album in his Canvas series, collections of songs originally written for Samurai of Prog and The Guildmaster. On this album, the multi-instrumentalist is joined by bandmates Rafael Pacha on guitars, viola da gamba, piccolo flute, fretless bass, and zyther, and Federico Tetti & Carmine Capasso on electric guitars. The gorgeous and sumptuous cover art is provided by Giuseppe Carlo Militello.
Scratches starts us off, originally composed for The Samurai of Prog on "Omnibus 2" (2021) with the title "Take me Down". This funky jazz infused number is very reminiscent of Flower Kings output and fans of that august outfit will find much to enjoy here. Two minutes in, there is a wonderfully warm keyboard solo followed by a deep bass groove leading into an evocative guitar solo. This is a very strong opener.
The Island of Despair was originally written for Samurai of Prog Bernard & Porsti’s Robinson Crusoe. The musical storm which opens (taken from 2016’s Inner Prospekt Ocean Suite) sets the scene magnificently of that Dafoe classic, with our hero shipwrecked, and I enjoy the lyrics which evoke that truism of the sea as the sailor’s mistress, which can be a fickle partner, destroyer as well as lover. At the conclusion, Crusoe has no idea at all where he is. Musically, this is a very pleasing melodic number which evokes very nicely that sense of loss and confusion, especially the beautiful piano solo and voices which enter in the aftermath of the storm leading into a mournful string and piccolo flute section which itself segues into a guitar solo which cries to us.
A Wordless Fable follows. It is simply beautiful. If I hear anything quite as lovely as this instrumental epic in 2023, I would be astounded. Originally written for The Samurai of Prog’s The White Snake, this is over eleven minutes of pure musical joy. From the opening notes of Pacha’s acoustic guitar, you are drawn into a musical pastiche which delights. I have embedded the track below. The music brings us a sense of wonder, of mischief, adventure, danger, curiosity, just about the full gamut of emotions without needing to speak a single word, although there are some lovely female voices crying to us. Viola, a powerful fretless bass, light percussion, flute, rich synths, and the most sumptuous guitar work. I can guarantee that readers clicking on this track below will experience something special and take their own meaning from a story which needs no lyrics to delight.
The Showdown is great fun. Originally composed for The Samurai of Prog "The Spaghetti Epic 4" (2022) with the title "La Resa dei Conti", this itself comes from the English translation The Big Gundown, a Sergio Sollima “spaghetti western” film from 1967 starring the incomparable Lee Van Cleef, familiar to those of us who are western fans of a certain vintage brought up on The Man With No Name series of Leone & Eastwood. There is a huge treat on the final (bonus) track of the album on Bandcamp, jumping ahead here, where you can hear this piece sung in the most beautiful spoken language on the planet, and, in fact, I prefer the Italian version. The track is twenty minutes long and never once outstays its welcome. Sit back, allow the music to wash all over you as you are given the tale of a bounty hunter’s final mission, from the opening delicate piano and lush flute, separated by the gun firing, right through to the final parting of the way of our “heroes”, with some of the most evocative music you have the pleasure of hearing. If you love Italian progressive music, this is a must. If you are unfamiliar with it, here is your chance to become hooked.
Young Me, Old You, the final track on the Bandcamp digital release, was originally composed for The Guildmaster album Liber de Dictis. It is a very reflective piece looking back on one’s childhood, but also lamenting the modern way of allowing children to grow up without experiencing the joy of innocent childhood pleasures in real life, instead growing up with avatars and digital “experience”. This is a very clever, knowing, song (especially when it talks of being linked forever with loved ones no longer with us) with some touching vocals leading gorgeous guitar, wind, strings, and piano.
The Lizard Tale, a relatively short five-and-a-half-minute track, the shortest on offer, is available on the CD version of the album only. Who does lizard trust? This is a satisfying fable set to music.
All art is a blank canvas upon which the artist(s) prepare, build, and present their craft, a story of pictures, words, music, poetry, prose, those cultural imprints which make life so much more than a chore, or something to be endured in the daily grind of work. di Benedetti is an artist, and his music enriches my life and comes very highly recommended to you.
Canvas Three is an experience. Immerse yourself in its beauty. You will, I guarantee, see, and hear something different, no matter how subtly, each time you return to the finished product.