Doracor: Unexpected Intersections

Nearly a decade after his last release, Corrado Sardella returns under the Doracor banner with Unexpected Intersections, a seventy-five minute journey that wears its neo-prog influences proudly on its sleeve. If we take the most beautiful, melodic, and hopeful moments of IQ’s last two decades and imagine them in a more colorful setting, then add flashes of extraordinary guitar virtuosity and a heightened theatrical edge, the result would be something close to what Doracor offers here. Think of it as a vivid, Italian-colored version of IQ, with early Marillion, Pallas, Pendragon, and Twelfth Night influences folded in without hesitation.

There are moments when Sardella and his many collaborators capture that unmistakable neo-prog spark. "Il Coraggio di Essere" and "Quel Folle Volo" add an Italian vocal flair that can easily pull the listener toward RPI territory. "Distant Lights" flirts with a sax-driven vibe that feels as if you’ve wandered into an early 80s elevator soundtrack, an odd choice perhaps, but one that makes sense if you accept it as part of the album’s “unexpected intersections.� "That Silent Tear" brings things back into focus, leaning on atmospheric instrumentals and melodic textures that echo a softer, female-fronted IQ.

The album’s title suite, "Unexpected Intersections", is the moment when everything comes together. At over fifteen minutes, it delivers drama, dynamics, and a satisfying sense of progression. Here Sardella combines the urgency of Marillion’s Punch and Judy era with an Italian sense of grandeur, and it works beautifully.

Still, at seventy-five minutes, the album can feel uneven. Roughly half of it soars with color and nostalgia, while the other half drifts into laidback passages that struggle to hold attention. But when Doracor finds its footing, especially through the soaring guitar lines and lush arrangements, it captures the essence of what made the early days of neo-prog so exciting.

Unexpected Intersections may not be flawless, but when it shines, it truly shines. For fans of IQ, early Marillion, or anyone craving that vibrant neo-prog sound dressed in Italian flair, this album has plenty to discover... cheers!

Track Listing:
1. Journey (01:32)
2. Remnants Of Memories (10:21)
3. After Waking (04:42)
4. Il Coraggio di Essere (05:38)
5. Distant Lights (You Can't Forget) (05:11)
6. Quel Folle Volo (04:56
7. That Silent Tear - Intro (00:59)
8. That Silent Tear (05:16
9. And I Miss You… (02:37)
10. Simply You (06:19)
11. Stella D'Agosto (02:00)
12. Laurie (04:01)
13. Esegesi Di Una Fiaba Inenarrata (02:57)
14. Unexpected Intersections (15:33)
15. Di Quei Giorni Infiniti (01:45)

Added: August 27th 2025
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 119
Language: english

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