Aether - 2026 - III

(43:24; Luminol Records)

Track list:
1. Oort Cloud 6:23
2. Vogon 4:53
3. Cinq Teintes, Quatre Cadres 8:44
4. La Melancolie Du Petit Prince 4:39
5. Panta Rei 8:02
6. Swerve 10:43

Line-up:
Andrea Ferrari – guitars, keyboards
Andrea Grumelli – bass
Andrea Serino – keyboards
Matteo Ravelli – drums, electronics 
with:
Claudio Milano - vocals
Rosarita Crisafi - flute


Prolusion.
Italian band Aether started out back in 2023 from what I can tell, and have been a rather consistent band unit as far as creating material is concerned. They have released three studio productions as of 2026, with the album "III" released on Luminol Records in the spring of this year being the most recent of these.

Analysis.
It is the jazzrock variety of progressive rock that is the speciality of this band, and with a strong focus on the instrumental aspects of this tradition being the main focus at that. Rather than exploring a more clear cut variety of the form the band have opted for a more inclusive and expressive take on this form of music, where compelling and elegant constructions alternate with more expressive and harder to grasp parts and passages.

Typically we will get calmer, ambient sections in many of the compositions, frequently with a bit of a cosmic mood and atmosphere being a factor at play. On the other side of the borders of this creation we get expressive and challenging escapades that pull in elements from the more complicated jazz traditions, but also more heavy set sequences of the kind that I'd describe as Crimsonian in nature. But at times with a more delicate or melodic motif applied to those passages to create a natural contrast that creates both tension and cohesion. 

In between we get several parts that play around with noise effects of various kinds, more loose, open and slower paced jazz-based passages as well as the occasional side step into more of a groove-oriented and compelling variety of melodic jazzrock with a lighter as well as a heavier set display. 

In line with the expressive attitudes of this band we do get one song featuring vocals here too, courtesy of the brilliant and expressive Claudio Milano, a vocalist that fits the types of landscapes explored by this band very well indeed. 

Conclusion.
This is a band that mix it up between ambient passages, cosmic flavored escapades, elegant jazz oriented parts alongside frequent forays into expressive jazzrock landscapes and equally challenging escapades with more of a Crimsonian flavor to them. Those who find such creations to be generally interesting, and enjoy music of that nature explored in a mainly instrumental manner and with a darker tone being prevalent in the moods and atmospheres explored, should find this latest album by Aether to be quite the interesting production.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, August 2026

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Aether.band.italy/
https://www.luminolrecords.com/