Federico Favaro - Abstractions

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 21 Feb 2025

Tracklist:

1. Automata

2. Daydream

3. Horizon

4. Liquid Quartz

5. Polaris

I started putting this review together on Sunday evening after I had spent the afternoon in the company of friends, beer and vinyl records of varying genres. I realised fairly soon after starting that I was in no fit state to carry on so I paused. I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have been able to give this new EP from solo Italian progressive guitar phenom Federico Favaro the justice in deserves. 

Federico's debut EP Abstractions is due for official release on February 21st and he kindly wrote to me recently. I'm currently going through a phase where I'm bouncing from instrumental prog to technical death metal. This release obviously sits in the former category and I'm excited, and honoured to be able to hear it in advance of it's official release date.

This month is flying by and I haven’t written nearly as much as I would have liked. That being said, I’ve purchased and listened to more records at the same time, so you win some you lose some right? Italy has long been a bastion for epic, progressive music and a new name can be added to the ever growing list of exceptional talents this year with the debut EP from solo guitarist Federico Favaro. 

Abstractions begins with ‘Automata’ and it’s classically-inspired intro that flows seamlessly into an aural mosaic of epic guitar-work, alongside equally enjoyable bass and percussion. All instrumentation has been performed by Federico himself on this release (as I understand, please correct me if I’m wrong), making this more than just a “guitar” record.  

I know a lot of people recoil at the thought of progressive music because they think it’ll go on forever but it’s not the case here. ‘Daydream’ builds from Flamenco-like guitar plucking to much heavier and indeed engrossing progressive rock/metal soon after. One thing Federico wrote when he contacted me was that his music was nowhere near the standard of Plini (for example) but I disagree. 

There’s something really upbeat about ‘Horizon’ early on. It has bit of a punk sound to it (at least to my ears). It’s not too long though before any nod to punk disappears in favour of classically-tinged/off-kilter music that’s an absolute joy to listen too. Like the rest of the songs on Abstractions, it could be considered short in prog terms but that’s no bad thing.

The piano that greets you on ‘Liquid Quartz’ is beautiful and fits in perfectly with the jazz elements that flow through the EP. The djent-like guitar/bass tones later on show that Federico isn’t afraid of sudden direction changes and as with the rest of the EP, doesn’t shy away from ripping up traditional musical structures. 

Closing with ‘Polaris’, Federico offers up a song that’s deceivingly gentle and before you know it, you’re whisked off to another realm filled with dissonance and mind-bending riffs/tempos. I was reading an article earlier from somebody who thinks that musicians hate making music. If that’s actually the case then EP’s like this would not exist.

Federico Favaro is a genius and his music deserves so much attention for being genuine, and a true labour of love. Abstractions will hopefully be an example of what’s to come on future releases. What this space.

If you'd like a sneak preview of some of the songs that appear on this EP, head over to Federico's YouTube channel for some play-throughs and other videos - https://www.youtube.com/@FedericoFavaro/videos

Abstractions will be available digitally on February 21st.

Federico Favaro Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/federico.favaro_guitar/

Zebedy - Waiting For The Tide

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Feb 2023

Tracklist:

1. Well Being

2. Building Sandcastles

3. This City Is Ours

4. Thrive

5. Bloom

6. My Name Is Forever

7. Forget All That You Know

8. Revelations

9. Mask The Sky

10. Set The Pace

11. We Collide

The UK has always been blessed with an abundance of progressive rock/metal bands. In modern times, bands like Sikth, Tesseract, Karnivool and many more have proven how productive our island nation can be. Welsh quartet Zebedy are a newer addition to our ever-growing progressive community and one of the only bands of their ilk I know that call Conwy home (an area I know well, having lived in sunny Rhyl during my teenage years). Their latest (and third) album Waiting For The Tide was released in early February and was even produced by Sikth's Dan Weller. They've shared stages with Soil, InMe, Raging Speedhorn and many others too.

I’m full of positivity right now and jumping into an album from another UK band with such promise only adds to that feeling. Zebedy is a new name to me but I’m excited (unlike a certain mainstream radio DJ, whose a twat). Album opener ‘Well being’ is a song of two halves, featuring more traditional instrumental prog and electronic textures later on. Definitely a creative song to start with but something tells me there’s more to come and on ‘Building Sandcastles’ that statement rings true as Zebedy springs forth with great melodic vocals and intelligent musicianship. I can’t believe I haven’t come across them before.

The sound and clarity of the album strikes you straight away, no doubt in part thanks to Dan Weller’s touch during the production phase. ‘This City Is Ours’ immediately brings to mind bands like Hell Is For Heroes and Cars As Weapons, being filled with super-catchy vocal hooks and a gritty heaviness that’s not gonna scare the masses away. ‘Thrive’ follows and it’s a really well performed instrumental interlude of sorts, with an all-encompassing approach that sounds so warm.

The pause on the recording between ‘Thrive’ and ‘Bloom’ feels like it shouldn’t really be there and kinda spoils the momentum somewhat but that’s only a small gripe, as ‘Bloom’ is brilliant when it gets going. One of the album’s heaviest songs so far, which is great if you yearn for the heavy stuff. ‘My Name Is Forever’ takes Zebedy’s sound back in a lighter and brighter direction again with excellent crooning and intensity that resides amongst similarly vibrant song-writing. So good!

Before you know you’re deep into ‘Forget All That You Know’ and over half way through Waiting For The Tide. It’s here that I’m getting Cave In vibes somehow but that’s enough with the comparisons for now. Let’s just appreciate what’s flying out of the speakers. There’s real angst coming to the surface during ‘Revelations’ and the off-kilter time signatures (as well as my neighbour dropping something heavy on the floor above me) are able to induce a brief bout of anxiety, at least for a few seconds anyway. The song’s latter half is gloriously delivered with soothing harmonies amongst the crunching guitars and percussion.

‘Mask The Sky’ grooves like nothing else on this album, providing something that will induce rabid moshing in a live setting while also pleasing those that like their music served with a heavy dose of math. It’s an epic instrumental, showing how versatile Zebedy can be. ’Set The Pace’ initially sounds like a pop-punk song (All Killer No Filler era Sum 41 anyone?) but it isn’t long before Zebedy retreat into more familiar territory and prog it up. I’m getting subtle Fleetwood Mac feels from the vocal delivery for some reason. Are you?

’Set The Pace’ was the album’s penultimate song and it leads directly into ‘We Collide’, which is it’s longest. As much as Zebedy are a prog-rock/metal band, they’re also connected to indie and melodic rock too. ‘We Collide’ gathers up all of their musical influences, wrapping them up into a song that epitomises just how good they are. The UK needs bands like Zebedy and the rest of the world needs to know that progressive music can only progress because of the UK. I’m not one of those nationalists so don’t worry. I just like to champion bands from these shores when I get the chance.

You can stream and purchase Waiting For The Tide on all formats mentioned above via Zebedy's bandcamp page below:-

Zebedy - https://www.facebook.com/zebedymusic