Jargon – The Fading Thought
The search continues during the Covid-19 pandemic for great new music. Last night, for some reason, I watched Fritz Lang’s masterpiece, Metropolis. Then, I listened to The Fading Thought, a second time; the next day, with the memory of Lang’s classic still fresh in my memory.
Wow! Then, it clicked! The Fading Thought, would be an almost perfect modern soundtrack for that seminal movie. The darkness, lyrics, orchestration and classic sound of the music matches the power and magnitude of parts of that classic.
Before venturing out on his solo career, Jargon, has been working as the lead singer and leader of the band Verbal Delirium. The Fading Thought is lyric-wise, continuation of The Decayed Reflection, a Verbal Delirium song featured on the album The Imprisoned Words of Fear. The music for The Fading Thought, was recorded between 2018 and 2019.
Jargon, was born in Athens, Greece in 1981, and he is a fan of Peter Hammill, Genesis, Radiohead, Nevermore, IAMX, Lena Platonos, and Sergei Prokofiev amongst others. His voice has the power and emotion of a young Freddie Mercury. He is a National Conservatory trained musician, and it shows up well in his music.
The Fading Thought will be released this May on vinyl and digital format. Jargon, sings lead vocals, and plays piano; Nikitas Kissonas, plays lead guitars; Leonidas Petropoulos, plays bass; Wil Bow, plays drums; Kostas Karitzis and Thodoris Mouzakitis, play violin; Stelios Papanastasis, plays viola; and Aris Zervas, plays cello. Additional vocals on “How Can I?”, were performed by Lupe, from the band Mosquito.
Then album opens with “The Film”, and the pianist walking across a wood floor before laying down some emotional Bach-like piano, set to cello and strings. It is a wonderful instrumental, full of emotion. It is an immediate attention grabber for anyone that loves piano.
On, “In Search of the Invisible Thin Line”, Jargon, sings his first lyrics, and it is full of spirit and emotion. He has a good vocal mix between Freddie Mercury and Jeff Tate. A good mix for sure. He sings, “How easily the thought is fading away. How can we forget? Empty rooms within our heads. Searching for footprints in the sand”. Jargon, continues, “Searching for the invisible thin line, between the past and present. Searching between now and forever. Searching for the thin line between you and me”. This time the strings and piano continue to build sound, accompanied by drums, lead electric guitar and bass. Jargon, sings one of the best lines from the song, “Searching for light within our hearts”. A favorite song off this album.
“Dance of the Framed Words”, segues right in, off the last song. It is another perfectly placed instrumental. This time full of faster, more urgent piano and powerful, dark strings supporting. The melody reminds me a little of a Dream Theater’s “Space Dye Vest”. Thank you for the memory of that song enclosed in your music.
“The Fading Thought”, opens with “Part I – Slipping Away”. Jargon, sings, “So here we are again fading thought. Just you and me on the floor, and the sky, we once painted, of our dying love”. A romantic ballad, set to deep piano, strings, drums, guitar, bass and orchestration. Every moment of this over 7-minute song, (the longest on the album), is worth a listen. It will stay with you long after the music stops. Some of the keyboard work takes me right back to early Genesis. Thank you again, for that.
On “Part II – Reminisce”, Jargon, sings, “Just like in a dream we walked down the road. And you gave me the key to your heart”. It almost sounds like an excerpt from The Lamb Lies Down of Broadway, set to different lyrics.
“Part III – Fading”, opens like something out of a classic Marillion song, with Jargon, singing like Fish, “But here we are again…I’m fading in your thought. As we slip away you are fading, my thought…”
“Light”, is another beautiful, thought-provoking piano and strings instrumental. Each of these instrumentals are different and original. This track has more piano solos than the last.
“Time Is Running Out”, Jargon, sings, “Wild wind is breaking through my pillow. An echo is haunting me. It feels like someone’s at the window, staring at me”. Conjuring the memory of Wuthering Heights, thanks again. The deep, pipe organ sound of the keyboards and piano bringing back many memories of Genesis albums of the past. A wonderful and powerful building crescendo of music reaches high and takes emotions with it. Yes, the rest of the lyrics reveal similarities to the story of Wuthering Heights well. The pace and sound of the keyboards and piano changes to a rhythm which reminds me of a march pace, from a Billy Joel song, “Zanzibar”, I remember.
“How Can I?”, opens with big, bold, tragic piano keys and keyboards, sounding ominous. Jargon, sings, in almost a whisper, “How can I walk on the open road without leaving a trace? How can I touch purity without shedding a drop of me?” Great keyboard, cello and bass power builds, creating a deep structural soundscape. The excellent guitar soloing is cosmic. Later Jargon sings, “I just can not stand all this beauty around me. I want to break these silence chains that stain with blood my voice. I want to clear this veil of deafening noise!” Ghostly vocal sounds follow, creating a swift wind and great theater of the mind.
“The Last Temptation”, opens with Jargon, singing, “A flower’s in bloom in front of you, but you will never touch it”. After a 1920’s like piano intro. Jargon, sings, like a classic movie theme, “The warm light of a bright sun that will never touch your heart. The healing waves of a sea that will never wash away the dirt off your body”. The piano and music that supports this song is wonderful. Like Gottfried Huppertz; classic and Gothic.
“Window to the World”, opens with dark, gothic keys and all bass and electric guitars grinding along with the drums. Jargon, sings, “I open my window to the world. No one seems happy, nothing looks pretty, and there’s nowhere a friendly face to smile for me. Only enemies around me”. Yes, very dark. Jargon, sings, “Mother, why do you lie” Are you gonna leave me too? Brother why I’m not the same as you? Now deadly thoughts surround me. It’s time to break this fragile part of me”. The story builds to a climactic ending, and the music rises to the occasion. A devastatingly powerful end to a great work of art.
The arrangement of the string quartet was carried out by Nikitas Kissonas, (Methexis), The photos, artwork, and graphic design of the album was done by Dimitris Tzortis, (Immensa Artis).
This is another one of the best albums of the year. A masterpiece, that must be listened to with care and thoughtfulness. Powerful emotional lyrics and dramatic, theater of the mind music, and soundscapes that will last. Like a movie within an album. You need to experience it for yourself, from opening to close. Jargon, thank you for this surprise. Please, I implore everyone to get this album and introduce yourself to some of the best sounds of 2020. The music and the lyrics fit the dystopian wilderness this world is travelling through.
TRACK LIST:
- The Film (05:33)
- In Search of the Invisible Thin Line (04:53)
- Dance of the Framed Words (02:38)
- The Fading Thought (07:17)
- Light (03:54)
- Time Is Running Out (06:54)
- How Can I? (06:22)
- The Last Temptation (07:10)
- Window to the World (04:54)
https://verbaldelirium.bandcamp.com/