The Samurai of Prog is the epic home of prolific music, where they are always working on a new album. They have returned…again! This time with A Quiet Town, which was released on February 9th, 2024, on Seacrest Oy. As always, these projects are full of some of the best musicians and singers in the progressive rock genre that The “Samurai” can find. Notably, Marco Bernard, on Shuker basses; Marco Grieco, on keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica, and backing vocals; and Kimmo Pörsti, on drums and percussion; are the leaders of the Samurai of Prog, project.
This time, the band leaders have included these wonderful artists to bring the concept of this project to life musically: Michael Trew on lead and backing vocals, on track 8; Ron Alonso on vocals; Peakfiddler, on fiddle; Luke Shingler on flute; Juhani Nisula on electric guitars; Steve Unruh on vocals, violin, and flute; Olli Jaakkola on flute; Ben Craven on vocals and lead electric guitar; Tony Riveryman (aka Toni Jokinen) on electric guitars; Ivan Santovito on lead and backing vocals; Marco Vincini on vocals; Andy Nixon on lead and backing vocals; and Linus Kåse on alto saxophone.
The concept of the album is summarized here: “In a seemingly serene town with devoted Sundays and thriving soap factories, the sudden discovery of a young woman’s lifeless body in the church confessional unravels hidden truths. A childhood friend, now a detective, unveils unsuspected realities. Within a TSOP progressive rock concept album, the mystery unfolds, revealing the culprit behind the tranquil façade”.
“Smile Forever”, opens the album with some background narration, along with some harmonica and slow picked Southern blues guitar, supported with fiddle. The stage is set for a Southern USA story, to begin. Then, the synths and keyboards are added, along with powerful electric lead guitars and choirs of plenty. Suddenly soft piano enters, with the vocalist, who sounds immediately like Peter Murphy. He is the detective, and a good friend of the murdered woman. He sings about the woman, who was killed in the church. Furthermore, he pledges to avenge her murder, and return “a smile that will last forever”, to her face. A great instrumental composition takes over, soon after the opening story is told. One of the best songs on the album. They even add what sounds like pipe organ to this masterpiece soundscape, to make it really hit the roof. Flute is added to elevate the sound even higher. Some electric guitar solos are simply fantastic. Off to a wonderful start.
“The Crime”, opens with people walking and the slow closing of a large door. Then, more of that incredible pipe organ, flute, and violin. Drums, synthesizers, and guitar bring the musical volume higher, as bass helps keep rhythm. The violin playing on this track is simply spectacular. As is the piano playing, that takes over when the violin stops. An instrumental track full of emotion and breathtaking music. This one reminds me a lot of early Kansas. Then, the end dissolves into a New Orleans funeral dirge, complete with alto sax, woodwinds, soft drums and electric guitar. An electric guitar solo and some excellent synthesizers completes this excellent song.
“The Priest”, sings about trying to bring back the woman from a dangerous life, while she was alive. He sings, “Poor sad and simple girl. Why did you not listen to my recommendations. You should have come to church more often to pray. It never would have happened to you, what happened today. Oh the company she keeps is rubbing off on her”. She was sitting next to a business. A well-known man. A married man. The plot thickens, as the drums beat and the synthesizers rise. Keyboards and flute are added to give it an early Genesis sound. Then, they break into ragtime as they describe the poor reputation of the murder victim. They bring back the electric guitar, flute, piano, and synths to close.
“The Businessman”, opens with straight out fiddle, before the drums. Electric guitar, bass, and drums join in. It almost sounds like a Kansas or a Charley Daniels song. The businessman declares the woman was a prostitute, and he partook of her services. He tries to blame the Mayor for treating the woman poorly and almost pointing the finger at him as the possible murderer. Very cool synths fill the soundscape as electric guitar solos rise higher. This singer and the music sounds more like early Arena. The businessman’s wife is the owner of all the businessman’s soap factories. So he definitely wants to keep his relationship with the dead prostitute a secret.
“The Mayor”, is about the next subject of the criminal inquiry. The Mayor had proposed to the dead woman, before the murder, and he accuses her of blackmail and extortion. Some synth playing will take you right back to Tony Banks and Genesis.
“The Doctor”, “always has a bright smile”, the singer sings, to open this upbeat Vaudevillian piano, and playful song. Beautiful flute and strings fill the air. The doctor refused to give the woman hallucinogens. Then, the real Tony Banks’ keyboards kick in; complete with marching drums, like a hike up to “Dance on a Volcano”. The Phil Collins drums are missing, but it still sounds great. Another of the best songs on the album. Back to the Vaudevillian sound, for a short term. Then, back to the Hackett-like electric guitar and synthesizers.
“Dance of Clues”, opens similar to Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells”, with brilliant piano keys. Then, it takes a darker, silent movie, kind of twist; or maybe…film noir. All-in-all a beautiful piano instrumental to sooth and have fun with, like you might remember from the movie, The Sting; if you are old enough to remember. Later, it goes, full-scale ragtime and that huge smile returns to my face. Absolutely one of the best Samurai of Prog albums I’ve ever heard.
“The Solution (Part I)”, is my favorite song. It contains the best vocals and vocalist on the album. I am a fan of Moon Letters from Seattle and Michael Trew, (who looks like a young Tony Banks and sings like a young Phil Collins), is their lead singer. This is his song, and he absolutely overwhelms it with those Collins-like precision vocals. He carefully lays out the plot and plan of the murderer, and helps lead us all to… “The Solution”. All of Michael’s singing is enraptured with Steve Hackett – like, “Entangled” guitar; complete with flute support. The electric guitar solos and synths fire well after Michael interviews the Doctor. Michael plays all parts, including the detective, doctor, and priest. Michael states the doctor is the murderer. Beautiful flute takes us out, as the doctor is led away in handcuffs.
“The Solution (Part II)”, is the second, possible solution to the crime. It opens with Ian Anderson – like Jethro Tull flute sounds. Sassafras from Northern Florida is the main ingredient of the soaps made in the factories run by the businessman. The new inspector seems to think that maybe the Mayor is the culprit, with the use of a drug made from the output of the factory.
“The Report”, is the finale and conclusion. It opens with a typewriter completing the written report. Alto sax plays, along with drums, guitar, bass, and percussion. Synthesizers join in to create a great and fun bouncy beat. At times, they are just so close to breaking out in a Madness kind of jazzy sound, but instead the synthesizer takes over and keeps us within prog. The pipe organs are back, and I am smiling brightly.
As usual, The Samurai of Prog always gives you more than your money’s worth. There is so much wonderful instrumental music in this project. A story, told with fantastic singers and top production values. Buying this album will give you over 68 minutes of fantastic progressive rock music, wrapped within a who-dun-it mystery story. Every song on the album is a hit, full of great players and instrument playing. The story is an excuse and backdrop for the remarkable music filling the air. This multi-instrument, multi-genre work of art is amazing. Please pick it up. You won’t soon turn it off. It will remain on repeat!
Track Listing
1. Smile Forever (7:45)
2. The Crime (5:41)
3. The Priest (6:56)
4. The Businessman (7:47)
5. The Mayor (6:08)
6. The Doctor (7:17)
7. Dance of Clues (3:04)
8. The Solution (Part I) (11:56)
9. The Solution (Part II) (7:12)
10. The Report (4:48)
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Seacrest Oy. Credits: Artwork by Ed Unitsky. Mixed, mastered and produced by Kimmo Pörsti. Other, (Introduction and Synopsis), produced by Marco Bernard. (Introduction and Synopsis Proofing), done by Steve Unruh. (Introduction and Synopsis Translating), done by Marco Piva. (Introduction), produced by Marco Grieco. (Synopsis) created by Aldo Cirri. Recorded in 2022-2023.
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thesamuraiofprog/
https://www.seacrestoy.com/kimmo-porsti
YouTube and Music Video Links: