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Fjieri — Words Are All We Have (Reloaded)
(Bandcamp SP Music SPCD03, 2024, CD / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2024-08-25

Words Are All We Have (Reloaded) Cover art

Fjieri came together in 1997 as the Italian band consisting of Nicola Lori (guitars), Stefano Panunzi (keyboards), Angelo Strizzi (drums and percussion) and Elio Lori (bass). On hearing the band, Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree, Japan) decided to join them, becoming not only an adjunct musician but also an artistic producer, which is quite evident by the strong Porcupine Tree similarities in the music. Words Are All We Have, their second album, was released in 2015 with the addition of Jakko Jakszyk (Tangent, King Crimson, Level 42, Franco Battiato) on vocals and guitars. Guest musicians Tim Bowness (vocals on “Hidden Ties”), Gavin Harrison (drums on “In the Blue Morning"), 05Ric (guitar), Nicola Alesini (sax, clarinet), Mike Applebaum (trumpet, flugelhorn), Cristiano Capobianco (drums), Daniele Iacono (drums), Giampaolo Rao (drums), and Angelo Strizzi (drums) further cement the Italian Porcupine Tree sound. All tracks are penned by Jakszyk, Lori, and Panunzi except for the Richard Barbieri and Tim Bowness tune “Flame.” Now, nine years later, a newly mastered album with a revised track list, new cover art, and a bonus track, “A Sense of Lost,” is available from SP Music. Typically reissues include bonus tracks at the end, but not so with Words Are All We Have (Reloaded). Instead the bonus track kicks off the album and bumps the former opening track “Oriental Dream” to number ten, between “In the Blue Morning” and “Zombie Love.” The album is a mixture of songs and instrumentals with a strong late night urban jazzy sound. I am not too impressed by the bonus track, finding it odd that they placed it first, whereas the instrumental “Oriental Dream” is undoubtedly the best track on the album. Other high points are “Flame” and “Hidden Lines.” The rest of the album I can take or leave as I find the instrumentals and instrumental passages preferable to the Jakszyk’s vocals and lyrics. If you are a fan of Porcupine Tree clones, you might find this album interesting.

Filed under: Reissues, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Jakko Jakszyk, Gavin Harrison, Tim Bowness, Stefano Panunzi, Fjieri

More info
http://stefanopanunzi1.bandcamp.com/album/fjieri-words-are-all-we-have-reloaded

 

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