Lori, Nicola: Urban Vision

Multi-instrumentalist Nicola Lori is probably best known for his time with the Italian prog band Fjieri, which he founded with his brother, Elio, Angelo Strizzi, and Stefano Panunzi. Along with a number of all-star guest musicians, they released their self-titled debut album in 2009 to positive reviews. Nicola and Stefano were back in 2015, again joined by a great supporting cast, for the release of Words Are All We Have, which too received both fan and critical acclaim. To date, that has been the last Fjieri album.

In the meantime, Panunzi has released two solo albums, Beyond the Illusion (2021) and Pages from the Sea (2023), both of which feature Nicola as a guest player. They’re very good, better than either of Fjieri’s albums, and certainly better than his first two albums, Timelines (2005) and A Rose (2009). Nicola also has decided to get into the solo game with his October 2024 release, Urban Vision.

The album starts off promisingly, with some notes that could have been heard on Sketches of Spain and then moving into a more modern jazz feel. It’s a great instrumental track. But it starts to go downhill from there. The next track features the vocals of Grice Peters, who sang on Beyond the Illusion. His vocals didn’t bother me on that album, but they grate on this one, as do the vocals of the three other singers featured. They are by far the weak link of Urban Vision. Had Nicola decided to go with a completely instrumental album, I think he would have had a winner. Or even if he had chosen different vocalists and used them more sparingly.

For fans of Fjieri, I fear this album will be a disappointment. And for fans of Panunzi’s recent work, I can’t see how it wouldn’t be. But remember: Panunzi got off to a slow start with his solo career. Nicola has time to right the ship, and the talent to do so. Let’s hope he does.

Track Listing
1. Running Life (6:18)
2. Urban Vision (6:30)
3. Inside Your Thoughts (5:56)
4. A Life in this Heaven (6:04)
5. Hellios (4:53)
6. A Night in Istanbul (6:50)
7. Strana la vita (5:19)
8. It’s Looking Like April (5:18)
9. The Psychology of Persuasion (6:28)
10. Shadows of My Memories (6:19)

Added: December 17th 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Artists @ Bandcamp
Hits: 111
Language: english

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