Watch, The - Primitive


Year of Release: 2007
Label: Lizard
Catalog Number: CD 051
Format: CD
Total Time: 47:08:00

There is no denying: Simone Rossetti is the reincarnation of a seventies Peter Gabriel. Although he might have hated this comparison when he started singing, I'm convinced that today he sees it as a huge compliment, for Gabriel and Genesis in the seventies were unique in every single aspect. Especially in Italy albums such as Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme and Trespass were greeted with utmost respect and injected energy and enthusiasm into hundreds of would be musicians and singers, not to mention a small army of Gabriel look-alikes. Some thirty years after Genesis conquered Italy, The Watch has finally found its ideal line-up, composing, arranging and recording the music they feel in their soul rather than go for the direct copy and paste technique. The Watch is not an easy copy of Genesis nor is it aiming to be a more exclusive cover band. Our Italian friends have no problem in admitting they do adore Genesis in all its glory, yet they try to place the band in the 21st century and compose original music using the right ingredients.

The main ingredient has to be the mellotron, which forms the backbone in many a composition by The Watch. The band actually owns a genuine M400 which they bought from an Italian studio where the famous singer Zucchero used to record his albums. He also used the instrument on tour where it was also used by people such as the Nomadi and even Queen's Brian May. When The Watch acquired this instrument, the tapes inside were over twenty years old and didn't match the clean sound of the band. It was a tough decision whether to leave things as they were or to buy new tapes from the original mellotron makers in London. The change of tapes breathed new life into the instrument, giving it a central place in the music of the band. Currently the tape set consists of 3 violins, 8 mixed choirs and flute. This mellotron is like a sixth member to the band.

The Watch has also fully understood the digital age by releasing an album of an acceptable length rather than go for the impossible. A good 47 minutes spread over seven tracks is what Primitive is all about. Produced by Simone Stucchi, all the music and lyrics were written by Simone Rossetti except for "Soaring On," which he co-wrote with Cristiano Roversi and features Sergio Taglioni on piano and Moog. As soon as the first seconds of "Sound Of Sirens" reach your ears, it's as if you are propelled back in time to witness a brand new Genesis album on the Charisma label. Every single element is perfectly balanced in order to underline Simone's poetic lyrics the best way possible. Mellotron, bass pedals and organ have seldom sounded that good!

As with their big examples, "The Border" starts in a very acoustic way, mainly emphasizing the vocals, which are soon accompanied by gentle guitar and flute. Heavy distorted guitar chords together with powerful organ mark the beginning of "Two Paces To The Rear," which once again embraces soft intimate moments as well. Great Moog solos swim on an ocean of organ sounds, yet it's still the remarkable voice of Rossetti that delivers all the lustre that goes with this band. In "When I Was Tree," guitar only joins towards the end, again putting most of the arrangement in the capable hands of our keyboards maestro Fabio Manzini. Complex drumming together with sways of mellotron and organ form the main ingredients for "Another Life," which also contains slight references of early King Crimson. "Berlin, 1936" not only stands out from a lyrical point of view, but it also contains all of the elements that make The Watch such an incredible rare find. This is drama at its best. Pity some of the words aren't pronounced the right way, so for a next effort they should go through the lyrics with someone who masters English rather well before actually recording it. Subtle piano and gentle strings uplift Simone's vocals during the closing "Soaring On," which would sound incredible, if only the band could use a real orchestra. So if a millionaire is reading this: why not get in touch with the band and offer them a huge budget for their next album?

Primitive surely ain't primitive in the literal sense of the word. A lot of care and perfection has gone into this recording which confirms the quality of the band and takes them another step further. Put on your headphones and smear thick layers of fluorescent paint around your eyes and think for one minute you are fronting one of the best bands in the world. It's that simple!


Tracklisting:
Sound Of Sirens (8:01) / The Border (4:16) / Two Paces To The Rear (9:11) / When I Was A Tree (5:38) / Another Life (6:19) / Berlin, 1936 (8:52) / Soaring On (4:51)

Musicians:
Simone Rossetti - vocals, flute, Moogs, mellotron, solina synth
Ettore Salati - electric, acoustic and 12-string guitars, bass pedals
Marco Schembri - bass, electric and acoustic guitars
Fabio Manzini - organs, pianos, synth, mellotron
Roberto Leoni - drums, percussion

Discography:
The Night Watch - Twilight (1999)
Ghost (2001)
Vacuum (2004)
Primitive (2007)
Planet Earth? (2010)
Timeless (2011)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IT

Added: May 21st 2007
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.thewatchmusic.net
Hits: 3687
Language: english

  

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