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Not A Good Sign: From A Distance

Progressive Rock

2.5/5.0

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Fading Records / AltrOck Productions
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 29.04.2015

This review of Not A Good Sign's sophomore release From A Distance should be brief, and I'll try to keep it so. First, a little background information. The band was formed in Milan, Italy, by musicians and members from AltrOck Productions. Their general approach to music is melodic progressive rock with a sad tone.

Not A Good Sign

They unashamedly admit that they derive their sound from the golden age of 70's prog rock. In some way, I get that. At times, I hear a little early Genesis, before Gabriel left and they started doing pop music. Basically, excepting some parts, the music within sounds melancholy and bleak, sorrowful and sad. And boring. And repetitive. Keyboards seem to rule the day on this album, and they're generally dreary. But that fits the entire tone of the album. It seems as if they put a sign on the studio door, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here," just to set the mood.

There is one song that rises, seems uplifting, but The Diary I Never Wrote collapses under the weight of vocalist Allesio Calandriello mournful tone. Yet, this element, again, fits the general atmosphere of the album. It's probably good you can't understand what he's saying most times. I didn't even attempt to follow the lyrics as I didn't feel the need to be depressed.

I don't know. After listening once to this album, I wanted to take a long walk in a park full of flowers, watch screwball comedy movie, or simply listen to something positive, lively, or happy. It beats slitting your wrists. Sorry. I didn't make this review as short as I should have.

Not A Good Sign - Wait For Me

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Basically, excepting some parts, the music within From A Distance sounds melancholy and bleak, sorrowful and sad. And boring.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]