DeaR - 2023 - Dear Me!

(75:35; Music Force)

Track list:
1. Eight Seconds of Fame 4:44
2. The Art of Decluttering 4:42
3. Planetesimals 5:39
4. Axis Mundi 4:53
5. Sequeri 4:25
6. Wind 4:12
7. Dear Me! (Sweet Philly) 3:39
8. The Skyline 3:59
9. Life After Life 5:27
10. Whales Weep Not! 2:39
11. Cockles of My Heart 4:36
12. Otherness 3:17
13. Song to Grace 4:52
14. Shadows: My Soul 4:18
15. To Bacharach 3:23
16. I'm Older Than I (with No Younger of the Two) 4:44
17. Crickets (for Klaus) 6:06

Line-up:
Davide Riccio - vocals, instruments


Prolusion.
Italian artist Davide Riccio is a veteran of the Italian culture scene, with a plethora of works to his name as a writer, musician, composer, director and journalist, with a career that goes back to the 1990's. He has been releasing solo albums using the moniker DeaR for the better part of fifteen years, in addition to being a member of different bands over the years and participating in a number of different collaborations. "Dear Me!" is the name of his latest solo album, which was released through Italian label Music Force in the spring of 2023.

Analysis.
As far as the specific style of music goes, this isn't an album that comes with any strong ties towards the progressive rock or even progressive music genre as such. The material here is better described as being an atmospheric laden and occasionally playful variety of pop music. That being said, many of the compositions do come with a bit of an art pop seasoning, or perhaps an art pop aspiration, that in some cases does transport the songs outside of the boundaries of more conventional pop music.

One of the striking elements throughout are the deep toned, relaxed vocals of Riccio. When reading up on the artist it turns out that he is quite the David Bowie aficionado, and that is something you can hear in his vocals in particular, and he also adds some elements Bowie fans will recognize to his compositions. Hence the aforementioned art pop veneer we find in some of the songs here.

The most interesting of the songs here play around with a few different style additions of a more subtle kind, where the effect is more in line with adding an additional layer to the landscapes explored instead of expanding the boundaries as such. Trip hop inspired rhythm elements appear in some of the songs, quite a few compositions will feature details and effects with more of a jazz origin, while others may contain funk details or have occasional soul inspired moments as a recurring element. Some cases are more overt than others of course, so while these additions may be dominant and defining elements in some songs they may be more of a partially hidden undercurrent elsewhere. Both of which will be pleasant and pleasing to encounter for the avid listener, each in their own way.

The final third or so of this album gradually lose touch with this more creative approach to songwriting and execution, with the songs gradually becoming more conventional and less interesting, at least when regarded from a progressive rock point of view, with a couple of songs coming across as subpar and superfluous. The concluding creation is a return to form though, as well as being very much an exception on this album in terms of style. The song in question here is called 'Crickets (For Klaus)' and is an elegant instrumental creation exploring electronic landscapes where the textures are fluctuating and circulating while making use of cosmic effects, ongoing nature sounds and occasional world music details. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Klaus referenced in the song title had the last name Schulze, to put it that way.

Conclusion.
While this isn't an album that will appeal all that much to those with a more dedicated interest in progressive rock, those with a taste and affection for well made music music that comes with subtle overtures towards the art rock universe should find quite a bit of enjoyable material on this production. David Bowie fans will encounter material that is familiar sounding, without ever truly being straight up replications or duplications of his most well regarded material, and I presume that the final composition on the album should be a pleasing encounter for those who enjoy music made in a similar manner to the late and great Klaus Schulze. A charming album that contains some moments of magic, many solid creations but also a couple of rather less interesting cuts.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, July 2023

Links:
http://www.musicforce.it/