ALEXIS BIETTI
FRANK NOLTE
ANNA BLACK
TAMAS ANGYAN
Platypus Planet was founded in 2021 by vocalist and keyboardist Anna Black, and they have released thus far three singles which you can listen to and purchase at https://platypusplanet.bandcamp.com/ I have embedded them at the foot of this review as a taster for what I describe below. You can also see more at Welcome to Platypus Planet - DistroKid (hyperfollow.com) and their Facebook page at Facebook
This coming weekend (13th January 2024) sees the latest release, Inner Peace which alongside the main players Black, Frank Nolte on drums, Tamas Angyan on guitars and newly joined Nine Skies bass maestro Alexis Bietti, sees some stellar guests in the form of Laura Piazzai on backing vocals and Clive Nolan on keys, principal players on the exceptional Imaginaerium project The Rise of Medici which I still love and play regularly.
The project is described as a sonic adventure that transcends the boundaries of genres, so is right up this website’s street. The music lives up to its promise. This is a band who are about as tight as it gets with Black’s mixing producing a wonderfully clear listen.
The introduction lasts a minute, with pianos, synths, electric guitar setting a dramatic soundscape before the rhythm section introduce themselves. I especially like the guitar work of Angyan throughout, some really classy notes and vibes, whilst those familiar with Bietti will instantly recognise the grooves he creates, and he and Nolte make a good team underpinning the action. Black then enters the main fray alongside Piazzai backing her. The vocals are dramatic and lyrically the quest to find oneself, opening one’s mind to see what you discover resonate with me – if you enjoy your vocal delivery operatic in a modern rock setting, you will love this.
As the track develops, we get some heavier, metallic vibes, with screaming vocals and a pulsing guitar riff, but this, I must say as the final inner peace voice brings the song to a close, is very much overlaid with a distinctive soul vibe which could almost feature in a gospel choir setting. It is a fascinating mix, and I love it, because it is different and something new.
Whilst you read these words, I really do recommend that you catch up with the three previous releases. Identify is cinematic in its scope, a delicious ballad at its core with some very effective harder edges and effects. Black’s voice is gorgeous on this, the Orwellian voice is interesting, whilst the guitar solo is killer material.
Sincerety has a bit of a sixty’s pop/rock vibe to it at the beginning before we get a nice mix of the harder edge, pastoral, and spacey keys, alongside more gorgeous fretwork from Angyan, an early contender for this website’s “Find of the Year” in the annual awards.
Song of Sorrow has an appropriately mournful violin alongside a nice acoustic guitar hook, whilst Black is particularly expressive with her words. This is a very effective folk-rock track.
So, we now have four tracks from this act, and it is an eclectic mix to be sure, very enjoyable, and I am hoping for a full album from them in the not-too-distant future.