Carpani, Alex: Microcosm

I could describe what the latest release, Microcosm, from Alex Carpani is all about, but instead I’ll let the man himself have that honour…

"Microcosm is a concept album about a world in miniature, opposed to macrocosm. Human beings can be viewed as an epitome of the universe, small-scale models of the universe, with all its variety and contradiction. When you think of microcosm, picture your home town inside a snow globe: the teeny tiny city is a microcosm of the one you live in. It is that place in miniature. 
All this is represented here with a series of slices of life, possible real-life experiences through the 12 songs of the album."

…so, that this album opens with a cover is maybe something of a surprise. That the song chosen, while fitting the concept, is King Crimson’s “Starless�, is possibly an even less expected move. But instead of being an immediate step too far, the updated but still instantly recognisable Crimson classic instantly reveals the class on show. Admittedly, I have to say that when I read the guest list - Carpani wrote everything here and also provides most of the vocals, synths, mellotron, synth-bass, drums loops and electronics - I feared that I already knew exactly where we were headed. Hugely talented though they are, the names David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator), Theo Travis (Steven Wilson, The Tangent, Robert Fripp) and David Cross (King Crimson) do seem to pop up with ever increasing frequency on albums that all revolve around the sound that the aforementioned Mr Fripp is renown for. That Microcosm instead uses their skills in a much more glistening pop framework is quite the pleasant surprise. Think This Oceanic Feeling and Lonely Robot jamming with The Police and throw in some hues of an admittedly Crimson nature and you won’t be far from the likes of “The Mountain Of Salt� or “What Once Was�.

With “Prime Numbers� adding up to a much more Latin flavoured but still jagged concoction and “The Outer World� being shimmering, if melancholy and sax infused pop, the breadth covered is impressive - and that’s without even mentioning the Jon Davison (Yes) fronted “Kiss And Fly�, which adds a straight forwardness to a Crimson inflected mix to great effect.

With the variety on show, the excellent musicianship that abounds at every turn and Alex Carpani’s undoubted ability to pen a memorable song or twelve, Microcosm surprises on many levels - thankfully all of which are intriguing and impressive.

Track Listing
1. Starless

2. Kiss And Fly 

3. God Bless Amerika

4. The Mountain Of Salt 

5. We Can't Go Home Tonight 

6. Footprints In The Hearts 

7. Prime Numbers 

8. What Once Was 

9. When The Tears Roll Down

10. The Outer World 

11. Redemption

12. Microcosm

Added: October 24th 2022
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Alex Carpani online
Hits: 737
Language: english

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