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Drops

by Mad Crayon

supported by
Carsten Pieper
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Carsten Pieper Enter the Ghost of Bandcamp Friday Past: "Did thou not promise to dig deeper into this discography then?"
Answers: "Er, yeah, but I couldn't decide where to start..."
Enter the Ghost Bandcamp Friday Present: "So thou shalt buy the whole discography!"

And so I did :-)

HIgh quality RPI, 4 album spread over 3 decades. Beginning with very classic Genesis influenced neo prog and later on modernizing their sound, not afraid of edgier stuff. This is their 4th album from 2020. Some say their best yet Favorite track: Bloody Days.
kadees
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kadees (March 14, 2022)
> Favorite track: Mad Crayon Run.
VenkmanGuitar
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VenkmanGuitar Looks like we have a common friend, Nicolas is also the drummer of my band, Venkman Karma 🙂
Congrats for your work. maybe one day we'll meet live on stage.
Cheers from Paris 😉 Favorite track: Bloody Days.
/
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    DROPS ON CD DOES NOT EXIST. THIS DOWNLOADABLE VERSION HERE IS THE ONLY OFFICIAL AND AUTHORIZED ONE. ANYONE WHO SELLS DROPS CD DOES SO IN VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION LAWS AND IS IN NO WAY AUTHORIZED TO DO SO.

    Drops CD non esiste. Questa versione scaricabile qui è l'unica ufficiale e autorizzata. Chi vende il CD di Drops lo fa in violazione delle leggi sulla tutela del diritto d'autore e non è in alcun modo autorizzato a farlo.

    *********************************************************************

    The fact that you can download this album for free doesn't mean that we think it's worthless music. It is the result of years of work and passion. We have been playing together for more than thirty years, and making music is a gift for our lives, we couldn't live without it. We have long since abandoned the idea of making money by selling records, especially in recent years, and our greatest desire is that our music reaches a high number of listeners. So we invite you to listen to Drops, download it from Bandcamp and, if you like, reciprocate by supporting it on Bandcamp itself, sharing it on your social media, following us on Facebook or YouTube; writing reviews, talking about it to your friends. This would be the most important reward for us. Thanks! Alessandro, Daniele, Federico, Daniele.

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    Get all 4 Mad Crayon releases available on Bandcamp.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Drops, Preda, Diamanti, and Ultimomiraggio. , and , .

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1.
2.
Bloody Days 06:01
Bloody Days Looking for the reasons digging in to memories finding only shelters where to bury fathers' lies. Ready to believe again without having learned anything I’m forever gone. There I lost my dreams. It's easy if you know how to do It's hard if you're just watching the show. Bloody Days to find the line Shadow fighters moving one towards the other living their regret forever anybody die Army of desperation app for flying drones nothing never changed There I lost my dreams. It's easy if you know how to do hard if you're just watching the show. Bloody Days to find the line Living hundreds of miles from the borders exile from the lights of the Promised Land to the farthest refuge and believe in the gods while the king wants your death Digging in to memories as if nothing never changed an open wound for a constant war leaking energy from below Shadow fighters moving one towards the other face to see the eyes of the lie Bloody Days to find the line
3.
Where You Cannot Lie Standing by a lazy river I can take a breath. Fleeting moments, former fever... Would you please come back? Can you lie to yourself on the shore of the river And watching your mind flowing away? ... Would be great You keep moving again Hoping everything's well ... By the way Feeling cold up to my knees, It's growing inside me. Moving slowly I go by. It wets my sex, I stop my steps. Can you please take my hand? I will be a good friend, You can clean me away by today. You keep moving again Hoping everything's well ... By the way Blowing wind I'm afraid to see That I wll be a looser Like a falling tree. I need you down here to set me free. How I wish you understand me When i say that you'd better believe me. Feeling lonely by my self I still don't understand... Was it truly a bliss Falling down into this Would someone tell me please? Can you lie to yourself On the shore of the river And watch in your mind flowing away? Would you please take my hand, I will be a good friend. You can pull me away by today
4.
The Ape 09:50
5.
Evening Comes There is no other place where i would like to be now, all my fears disappear, along with this twilight. Silence grows,hidden flow, time goes down and turns into an apricot, i try to take it, but it bounces like a crazy ball. The sudden silence surrounds me, only steps in the wood. The leaves slide on invisible tracks, cradle the eyes and slow down my breath. Light is a nail, scratches my skin, leaving hard scars like the bark of these trees. The tawny owl sings, it's time to come back. The sudden silence surrounds me, only steps in the wood. The melody is over... only steps.
6.
7.
Down the Trench I can’t remember how long I’ve been here Was it a dream or the battle was real? All of my friends that pretended to fight but here in this trench they died into the night “Don’t be afraid” said Old Pirate to me “Bump up your veins and forget all your fears” Then, my old friend, shall I take you to hell? After all, maybe, we’ll turn into sand… I lose my name with my love far away Don’t be afraid... But my love is far away Long were the nights but much longer the days Hard to be hunters but harder to be preys Don’t trust that Pirate, it’s the same old refrain After all, surely, we’ll turn into sand… Came here to stay with your love far away I lose my name with my love far away Salutate il Vecchio Pirata dagli occhi di fuoco e dalla pelle bruciata! All of my wishes, all of my youthness All of my courage and all of my reasons are gone.
8.
9.
The Glitter of your life "No matters how you feel the moment you believe your life is now" "well I could try..." she kept saying "Oh my God, I'd better remind you I am right anyway" and I still wonder "Who are you, Who are you, Who are you" I looked around to find the best way to complain about myself. By rolling up her cigarette she went "I am feeling a peculiar hand of rationalization in your smile" and I still wonder "Who are you, Who are you, Who are you" Floating the proud of being surrounded by the glitter of your life You shine, you spark, you are looking sharp Sharing the story of your wishes made of glory and still I am down Nam myoho You trust, you pray "we live today" They must look so unreal, please take the chance of making a deal Let's take it easy, come on board, I'll take down town to the dome Reproaching just a little once again "I noticed that you love to sink that little spoon well down into the cake" and I still wonder "Who are you, Who are you, Who are you" Floating the proud of being surrounded by the glitter of your life You shine, you spark, you are looking sharp Sharing the story of your wishes made of glory and still I am down You trust, you pray "you live today" They must look so unreal, give me a chance or make it for real
10.
Way Out 01:46

about

Mad Crayon

Alessandro Di Benedetti - Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
Daniele Agostinelli - Keyboards and Vocals
Federico Tetti - Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals
Daniele Vitalone - Bass, Guitars and Keyboards

With:
Nicolas Bonneyrat - Drums
Max Saidi - Drums
Giovanni Maucieri - Drums
Chris Brush - Drums
Nicole Carino - Backing Vocals

credits

released December 11, 2020

Recorded 2019-2020
Mixed and Mastered by Federico Tetti
Cover Art by Daniele "Don Zauker" Agostinelli

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


"Drops is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term."

For one or two this might be a big surprise. The MAD CRAYON story already started in the mid 1980's. Apart from a demo cassette production they later on recorded three albums by the year 2009. And now, totally unexpected, after not less than 11 years, another new one appears with a bang. It's my first contact with the crew, and what sort of attractiveness!

The band's core still is comprised of a stable quartet, namely Alessandro Di Benedetti, Daniele Agostinelli, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone, taking care of the guitar, bass and keyboard instruments. Eh, invited, arrested, obliged, convinced, or whatever :-) somewhat unusual, all in all four different drummers are involved in the recordings. Anyway, this is a very worthwhile effort!

Great variety is assured, due to symphonic, folk, pop, ambient, psychedelic and heavy rock elements merged together to something coherent.

Hence musically they are delivering some fine progressive art rock here. Lyrics are predominantly in English, but not all the way through. Thus a slight Rock Progressivo Italiano flair is given here at least.

The band's kick-off is dominated by Vitalone's ambient synth pattern flow. Yeah, just A Sort of Incoming actually, garnered with some samples. Very melancholic.

Due to a catchy refrain Bloody Days then follows more as an art pop song. But it's also somewhat reminiscent to Peter Hammill, I'd say. At least three of the musicians are sharing the vocal task, on top comes some proper female backing.

On Where You Cannot Lie Tetti's slight accent is really striking, in a positive meaning. A tricky composition, nice piano lines everywhere, comfortable synths, wonderful short guitar solo. In summary: brilliant!

The Ape is hurrying without having vocals in the luggage furthermore, underway in the jungle on groovy and restless paths and Brian Auger reminiscent organ appearance.

Disturbed Love showcases them with a hybrid, heavy outbursts and subtle charm are alternating.

The Mad Crayon Run is offered in a very busy and colourful manner, I mean the tricky and heavy rocking behaviour. While playing together for more than thirty years in this constellation they eventually have abandoned the idea of making money by selling records. The desire to reach a high number of listeners with their music still stays though, as you can see, and hear.

Fortunately! During round about 60 minute playing time they are delivering melodic and atmospheric songs, absolutely appealing. Bravo, 4.5 stars so far, though 'Drops' is a strong candidate for a masterpiece status in the long term.

Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE Team & Band Submissions
Progarchives.com


A Sort of Incoming (3 54)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone

Bloody Days (6 01)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli, Nicole Carino
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat

Where You Cannot Lie (9 14)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Vocals and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano and Backing Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Backing Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Phone Voice Enrica Dionigi
Drums Chris Brush

The Ape (9 49)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Bass, Keyboards, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Guitars Federico Tetti
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat

Evening Comes (4 36)
(music and lyrics: Daniele Agostinelli)
Keyboards and Vocals Daniele Agostinelli
E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Giovanni Giò Maucieri
Backing Vocals Elara Marucci

Disturbed Love (2 52)
(music: Federico Tetti)
Guitars and Keyboards Federico Tetti
Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Keyboards Daniele Agostinelli
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Max Saidi

Down the Trench (9 00)
(music and lyrics: Alessandro Di Benedetti, Federico Tetti, Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Piano and Vocals Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat

Mad Crayon Run (6 04)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards, Bass, Guitars and Programming Daniele Vitalone
Keyboards Alessandro Di Benedetti
Guitars Federico Tetti
Drums Nicolas Bonneyrat

The Glitter of Your Life (6 09)
(music and lyrics: Federico Tetti)
Guitars, Keyboards and Vocals Federico Tetti
Piano and E. Piano Alessandro Di Benedetti
Bass Daniele Vitalone
Drums Maz Saidi

Way Out (1 46)
(music: Daniele Vitalone)
Keyboards and Programming Daniele Vitalone

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Mad Crayon Rome, Italy

Drops is the new album from the band Mad Crayon. Formed since 1986, they have released four albums and a number of collaborations for various progressive projects. Known throughout the world as one of the most interesting Italian prog bands since the 90s. ... more

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