MINDFEELS – XXenty (2017)
“XXenty” is the debut album from MINDFEELS, a new Italian AOR combo. Make no mistake; from the album title to the band’s name, there’s a clear TOTO reference, and ideed, MINDFEELS are absolutely influenced by Lukather & Co.
And that is a good thing in my book.
The seeds of MINDFEELS were planted 20 years ago when drummer Italo Graziana (SOUL SELLER), Roberto Barazzotto (bass) and Luca Carlomagno (guitars, keyboards, violin) created Dejanira, a cover band doing instrumental versions of Toto songs. Sometime later, the band enlarged to add vocalist Raffaella Miani to record an unreleased first album.
Moving to the more recent past, Miani was replaced by Davide Gilardino, and the band set to recording a new album.
With the Toto and Westcoast influence still prominent in their music, the band changed their name to MINDFEELS, a play on the 1999 Toto album Mindfields. They drop their first album “XXenty”, also a TOTO reference, but as well so named to celebrate their better than 20 years playing music together.
However, they are not a TOTO copycat, and there’s various other influences into their music
MINDFEELS incorporates all the signature Westcoast elements: strong use of melody, harmony, and groove from the vocals to guitar lines, keyboards to rhythm section, then wrapped in arrangements that can sway between light and airy to dense and deliberate.
Additionally, sweet melodies and catchy refrains abound in all of Mindfeels’ arrangements. Also and again, not unlike Toto and Steve Lukather specifially, Luca Carlomagno has a strong guitar presence in both riffs and leads.
Suffice to say, while not sounding specifially like TOTO, MINDFEELS play Westcoast AOR rock in the same vein as TOTO. They’re hoping, of course, to carve out their own style and may do so with this album.
Some songs with a heavier, hard rocking character especially in the riffs and rhythm section, include ‘Soul Has Gone Away’, ‘The Joker’, and ‘Touch The Stone’. But even these are tempered by lighter parts in melody and synth embellishment.
More ’80s AOR appear on the catchy ‘Don’t Leave Me Behind’ (one of my favorites), while the Westcoast feeling rises in ‘The Number One’ where guitar, bass, drums, and synths twist into a breezy mix.
A song like ‘Speed’ turns not on its title, but more on a rhythmic bass groove which starts and fills the arrangement. Piano lilts across the song as rhythm increases in the riffage. And Gilardino’s vocals are relaxed but also deliberate.
Surprisingly, the song doesn’t end with a guitar solo, something otherwise notable across this album.
The midtempo ballad arrives with ‘These Words’, a slower more subtle song that turns mostly on the vocal arrangement.
For MINDFEELS, obviously experienced musicians & veterans of the AOR Westcoast style, “XXenty” is a consistent and fine first effort, offering the promise of a bright future.
It’s a very well balanced record including cool melodic rockers too, and a bright production.
The current music industry (most of it) don’t make albums like this anymore, so kudos to the new label Art Of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Group for releasing “XXenty”, a pure delight for AOR fans.
Highly Recommended
01 – Don’t Leave Me Behind
02 – Soul Has Gone Away
03 – Hidden Treasures
04 – The Joker
05 – Skyline
06 – Speed
07 – These Words
08 – Fear
09 – It’s Not Like Dying
10 – Touch the Stone
11 – The Number One
Davide Gilardino – Lead and Backing Vocals
Luca Carlomagno – Guitar
Roberto Barazzotto – Bass
Italo Graziana (Soul Seller) – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Pre Order:
www.amazon.de/Xxtwenty-Mindfeels/dp/B075MMFLVG
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