Clive Nolan & Laura Piazzai have provided Lazland with an inordinate amount of pleasure in 2025.
The sophomore album of the project, Siege, has taken it to a new level; full of drama, history, myths, and, above all, emotions based upon the human condition, how we overcome the siege of body and spirit.
My track of 2025 was, in truth, pretty much decided when I had that familiar feeling on first listen. I will always listen to albums at least three to four times before writing down some rough notes, and then as many times as it takes to edit those notes into a coherent narrative. Rushed reviews are, in my opinion, rarely good reviews.
The first listen will inevitably be on my soundbar in the study whilst I am beavering away at the day job. The initial listen is a familiarisation exercise, a “getting to know you” thing. Yet, when the first chorus of “Footprints” came out, Laura singing at the peak of her vocal powers, it was one of those moments. It goes like this:
Hairs rising on back of neck.
“Bloody hell, that’s good”.
Ditch the day job work. This is far more important.
Turn off the track.
Sit down. Pick remote control up.
Play track again from the start, but this time with something approaching five times the volume.
Drink in genius
Siege is a very special album, and Glynis & I absolutely loved going to Clive’s Mead Hall in Herefordshire to watch it, and far more besides, live. Meeting two wonderful artists and forging relationships was to be cherished.
The album is available at https://imaginaerium.bandcamp.com/album/siege via Progrock.com’s Essentials.