Northern Lines - I Think We're Fine (2024) [Official Digital Download]

Generally we are passionate about music because it is the soundtrack of our life, those songs that make us remember our first love, episodes of life, whether happy or sad, in the case of a musician it is a real outlet. The intentions can be multiple, the fact remains that the style with which to set one's intentions to music is approached not only through personal taste, created based on past listening experience, but also through personality. The latter is the key to the evolution of music in a general sense, that is, it brings a change to what we grew up with.

The Roman Northern Lines were formed in 2013 from an intuition of Stefano Silvestri (bass), Cristiano "Cris" Schirò (drums) and Alberto Lo Bascio (guitar). The aim is well described in their biography: “The project was born as a musical liberation, a sort of sonic paradise in which each of the three musicians can express themselves without genre barriers, following an experimental trend, seeking some logic in the impossible joints and with a strong sense of humor.”. The latter is another key to understanding music, the use of topics in an intelligent way brings added value to listening. In 2013 they recorded the EP “Hari Pee Hate”, while the full debut took place the following year thanks to “Farts From S.E.T.I. Code" thanks to which they can embark on a tour that will also see them arrive in Eastern Europe in the month of June. Having achieved a good level of notoriety, in 2018 they added Leonardo Disco, a pianist and keyboardist from jazz, to the line up, together they created "The Fearmonger".

After a long incubation period, it is the turn of this new album entitled "I Think We're Fine" which is nothing other than a further exploration, with the integration of other languages, the result of the human and musical evolution of a band that still thinks like a band.

“That's My Son” is the single that anticipates the release, a look at the future in which fragments of the past come to light. The main topic of all "I Think We're Fine" concerns human cultural isolation, where the unfiltered critical sense of the times causes damage that we all know well. The result is a distorted reality driven simply by perceptions where each answer is not set in an immobile universe, but always dependent on another question.

Ten songs make up the album which opens with "Under A Purple Sky", and a guitar initially in the Hackett/Genesis style of the 70s, which only later leaves room for a Hard Rock built on historical foundations worthy of the best Hard Prog. Keyboards and electric guitar dialogue with each other instead of words, between moody changes supported by an excellent rhythm section. The approach of "Bear It" is playful, a roaring song in which the cohesion of the elements immediately comes to light. Progressive Rock fully embraces this cause, sealing a truly important individual culture of musicians.

“Neither The First, Nor The Last” starts in crescendo, until it touches AOR territories, but basically it is harmony that reigns between the notes, between intimate piano and interventions close to Jazz. In "'68" the band shows its muscles with a basic Progressive Metal approach, here electronic interventions also appear to arrange the lilting and monolithic song. The piano ending is beautiful.

“That's My Son” demonstrates through Hammond that he has absorbed the teachings of past masters, there is not even a reference to Marillion from the Fish era thanks to the electric guitar solo. We roar again with "Brother Nick", here we can better appreciate the desire to search for a different structure in the pentagram in a not entirely obvious way, all without ever overdoing it. Simply put, this music travels between a slap and a kiss. The title track is another example of development from the past, while "Site Of The Ritual" once again takes the Hard Prog path alternating with evident mood changes. The teaching of Fripp and his companions occasionally brings the listening closer to the band King Crimson, as in the case of "Consequences Of Bad Behaviour", while "Wind's Howling" closes the album with wise personality.

It is never easy to make an instrumental record, but when you have the ability to make the instruments speak instead of the mouth, the difference is not noticeable, on the contrary, it acquires a greater charm because it gives rise to various interpretations, even if basically the artist in question nevertheless traces a path to take. The trump card in this case are the melodies, always present and pleasant, which relay with the energy of that rough Rock bordering on Heavy Metal. All you have to do is approach the Northern Lines world with tranquility and awareness, and you will bring benefits to the soul.

Tracklist:
1. Under A Purple Sky (06:44)
2. Bear It (05:44)
3. Neither The First, Nor The Last (04:10)
4. '68 (04:47)
5. That's My Son (04:26)
6. Brother Nick (05:25)
7. I Think We're Fine (05:38)
8. Site Of The Ritual (05:43)
9. Consequences Of Bad Behaviour. (04:58)
10. Wind's Howling (04:29)


Thanks to the Original customer!