In anticipation of his second solo studio album, The Next Dream later in the year, the Italian pianist, keyboardist and composer, Massimo Pieretti has released a live album entitled Things To Live! Recorded on 29th June 2024 at The Acme Studio in Ladispoli, Rome, it includes a complete play through of his 2022 autobiographical, concept, debut album release, A New Beginning, as well as three tracks from the next album, already premiered on the Creature Of The Night EP from last summer.
The live band features musicians from that EP: Germana Noage on lead vocals (from the Italian metal band, Noage), along with Rober Falcinelli and Simon Cozzetto on guitars; and these are joined by Michele Raspanti on bass and Andres Gualco on drums. Massimo holds everything together on keyboards, backing vocals and samples. In the studio Massimo uses a wide range of guest musicians, which increases the musical diversity and stylistic range as a result – so I was interested in how the music would sound with a slightly more stripped-down line-up of musicians.
The first 11 tracks are essentially A New Beginning played in order. The music is deeply personal in nature for Massimo and has a refreshingly eclectic, and at times experimental, character to them. The songs span a wide range of genres, with art rock, prog, pop, rock and classical influences mingling together.
Intro is a gentle and atmospheric, piano-led overture, starting with echoes of several vocal to come and then some lovely, lush and melancholic keyboards. Oh Father begins with some rippling drums before some expressive vocals from Germana follow the keyboard flow and there are some nice soaring electric guitar scattered throughout. In November maintains the rich, dreamy musical style. Growing Old is one of the album’s most emotive. A lovely song which is both accessible and yet with a gentle intensity. The melodramatic, accented vocals occasionally strain with the song’s poignancy, but the subtle passion cannot be faulted. Is It That Girl Right? has a popular, mainstream flow and texture to it, with the supporting ensemble playing of the band very effective.
Out Of This World, is a change of style, which both highlights Massimo’s love of the cinema as the music and wordless vocals accompany Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from The Great Dictator. It certainly has a contemporary, moral relevance given the changing world order to see around us. The short Interlude sees piano and electric guitar combine well, before Things To Live And Die For, the centrepiece of the album, returns us to the dreamy, swaying musicality of the earlier tracks.
Family And Business is the new single and provides some refreshing bite to the musical template, with powerful, metal-like electric guitar, driving rhythm section and the opportunity for Germana’s vocals to break out and soar unfettered. A New Beginning Pt. A & B has a grandiose, reflective feel, which builds up a real head of steam with a percussive piano thrust and uplifting crescendo. I Hope You Will Always Be Here For Me rounds things off the debut album material satisfyingly with a sweeping and climatic, power ballad-style conclusion. While some of the classical, chamber-like nuances are missing from the studio versions, this is more than compensated for by the more consistent and coherent feel the band bring to the music in a live setting.
The forthcoming new album is showcased by Creatures Of The Night Pt. 1 and Pt. 2. The first part highlights Germana’s ethereal, Kate Bush-tinged vocals over the twisting, instrumental ensemble work, with Massimo’s electric piano and Simone Cozzetto’s expressive guitar flow over some inventive bass and drum patterns. The second part as a more brooding symphonic metal character, with keyboards and guitar propelling everything forward. With the sampled, eerie, avant-garde vocal snippets of Claudio Milano adding seasoning to the live playing, I think Massimo has raised the bar for A New Dream, based on these tracks alone.
The live album ends with a trio of acoustic versions of songs. I Dreamed Of Flying, with those moving words from a young Palestinian girl at the start, is a more intimate nature, with delicate, lyrical piano accompanying some lovely vocals, with some subtle orchestration in the background. The acoustic versions of In November and Things To Live And To Die For work rather well, in a simpler way, with resonant piano and vocals providing a very pleasing, harmonious end to the album.
Things To Live! is an intriguing and illuminating showcase of Italy’s Massimo Pieretti’s compositional, lyrical and instrumental skills within the framework of a recent live studio performance. It is a lovely snapshot of the eclectic diversity of his debut album but highlights the promise and holistic coherence of his forthcoming studio release, The Next Dream. It provides a tantalising view of his ongoing musical progress and the way he crosses musical genres of art rock, prog, pop and mainstream rock with symphonic elements. Please check Massimo out on Bandcamp.
Molte Grazie!
TRACK LISTING
01. Intro (2:38)
02. Oh Father (3:24)
03. In November (3:54)
04. Growing Old (4:35)
05. Is It That Girl Right? (2:54)
06. Out Of This World (3:36)
07. Interlude (1:10)
08. Things To Live And To Die For (3:46)
09. Family And Business (3:30)
10. A New Beginning Pt.A & Pt.B (4:41)
11. I Hope You Will Always Be Here With Me (3:35)
12. Creatures Of The Night Pt.1 (4:41)
13. Creatures Of The Night Pt.2 (4:50)
– Acoustic Set:
14. I Dreamed Of Flying (3:44)
15. In November (3:09)
16. Things To Live And To Die For (3:24)
Total Time – 57:31
MUSICIANS
Massimo Pieretti – Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Samples
Germana Noage – Lead Vocals
Roberto Falcinelli – Electric Guitar
Simone Cozzetto – Electric Guitar
Michele Raspanti – Electric Bass
Andres Gualco – Drums & Percussion
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cromosoma M
Country of Origin: Italy
Date of Release: 21st February 2025
LINKS
Massimo Pieretti – Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
