NichelOdeon & Borda - 2024 - Quigyat

(39:15; Snowdonia)

Track list:
1. Quigyat (Little Symphony for Frozen Soldiers) 9:02
2. Alla Statua dei Martiri di Gorla (Requiem in Defence of Children's Rights) 10:28
3. Los Pajaros Perdidos 5:00
4. Malamore e la Luna (2024) 5:28
5. Cio Che Rimane (2024) 9:17

Line-up:
Francesca Badalini - piano
Andrea Grumelli - bass, electronics
Claudio Milano - vocals
Borda - drums, percussion, electronics

Prolusion.
Italian band Nichelodeon is the creative vehicle of composer and vocalist Claudio Milano, and for the past couple of decades or so they have been a marked presence in the more expressive parts of the Italian progressive rock scene. This year they are out with the album "Quigyat", a collaboration with Italian musician Borda, which was released on Italian record label Snowdonia Dischi.

Analysis.
Nichelodeon have, at least from what I can recall, always been a venture that exist a bit on the outside of the conventional traditions of music, whether you regard their output from a progressive rock point of view or from an experimental music point of view. This is very much the case also for this production.

Milano's vocals are of course the defining and dominant part of the landscapes explored here, with carefully controlled recitals and singing being just as much a presence as more expressive and dramatic vocal performances and various kinds and types of vocal effects.

The vocal displays are complemented and contrasted with sounds and effects of different kinds, with what I'd describe as cosmic sounds and noise effects probably the most prominent, but also by way of creating orchestral inspired textures in some instances. At times with something of an ambient touch to the landscapes explored, but also by crafting dramatic sound and noise explosions. At some level you might say that the electronic noise components here reflect or mirror Milano's vocals, that they employ a similar type of approach and execution in how they use their primary creative and expressive tools if you like.

Otherwise a wandering, elegant piano is a vital presence in most of these creations, more often than not wandering in and out of the landscapes explored, and the sometime presence of a bass guitar with a tendency to explore motifs with a more distinct jazz-oriented sound and pattern further expands the boundaries of the landscapes explored. Percussion and rhythm instrument details also makes expressive additions and expansions to these creations, as careful additions as well as in more dramatic and borderline bombastic displays.

Just how to categorize or even explain the type of music explored on this album is a bit of a daunting task. The material is expressive and experimental, and mix and blend elements from ambient music, classical music and jazz first and foremost. The electronic components also make electronic progressive music a point of reference. But a direct categorization, now that is a matter I'll have to shy way from on this occasion.

Conclusion.
Nichelodeon is a band that thrive on creating and exploring musical landscapes that are on the unusual and experimental side of matters, and on this collaboration with Italian artist Borda that is very much the case once again. A production to seek out if challenging music exploring landscapes that are progressive and experimental in nature is a subject of particular interest, and especially if you enjoy such ventures to make use of and mix elements from classical music, jazz and electronic music.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, June 2024

Links:
https://www.claudiomilano.it/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064275272098
http://www.snowdonia.it/