Nicola Lori – Urban Vision (NL Music, 2024)
Nicola Lori’s debut album, Urban Vision, draws inspiration from modern urban life, a concept previously explored by influential writer Italo Calvino in Invisible Cities and by legendary Italian band Banco del Mutuo Soccorso in their 1973 track “La Città Sottile” (included in the album Io Sono Nato Libero).
On Urban Vision, Lori expertly combines progressive rock, jazz fusion, ambient electronic influences and much more. He intertwines masterfully crafted, elegant instrumental pieces with expressive songs that feature mesmerizing, exquisite vocal work.
Standout tracks include the opening track, “Running Life,” an instrumental with smoky trumpet and notable guitar work; the trippy “Inside Your Thoughts”; and the laid back, splendid piece “Helios” that features brilliant fretless bass, gliding guitars and ambient atmospheres. “Helios” is a moving tribute to Nicola’s late brother and Fijeri bass player, Elio Lori.
Equally exceptional, tracks like “a Night in Istanbul,” a phenomenal dialog between the trumpet and guitars. Meanwhile, Strana la Vita,” is a precious collaboration with Andrea Chimenti. Lastly, “The Psychology of Persuasion” features soulful, captivating vocals.
Urban Vision presents an impressive lineup of highly talented musicians including Grice, Robert Aceto (David Sylvian, The Heads, Tom Tom Club, Jansen Barbieri Karn); Andrea Chimenti; Cristiano Roversi; Colin Edwin (former Porcupine Tree, O. R.k.); Luca Calabrese (Richard Barbieri); Nicola Alesini (Claudio Lolli); Danilo Cherni (Antonello Venditti, Goblin Rebirth); Giacomo Anselmi (Goblin Rebirth); Stefano Panunzi (Fijeri) and Angelo Strizzi (Fjieri)..
Nicola Lori, born in Rome, is a multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, composer, producer, and co-founder of the Italian band Fjieri. With a classical music background, Lori was influenced by both Italian and English progressive rock, drawing inspiration from bands such as Area, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, PFM, Le Orme, New Trolls, Arti & Mestieri, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes, ELP, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.
In 1997, after numerous musical experiences, Lori, alongside his brother Elio Lori on bass, Stefano Panunzi on keyboards, and Angelo Strizzi on drums, formed Fjieri. The band intertwined progressive rock influences with new sounds from the 1990s, particularly drawing from the music of Japan and David Sylvian. In 2000, Lori met Richard Barbieri, the keyboardist for Porcupine Tree and former member of Japan, Rain Tree Crow, and JBK. Barbieri, impressed by Fjieri’s work, decided to produce the band’s debut album Endless, recorded at Forward Studios in Grottaferrata, Rome. The album featured collaborations with international artists such as Tim Bowness, Peter Chilvers, Haco, Mick Karn, Gavin Harrison, Richard Barbieri, and Andrea Chimenti.
While working on Fjieri’s debut, Lori also contributed to Stefano Panunzi’s debut album Timelines (2005) as a composer, acoustic and electric guitarist, and bassist on seven tracks. Fjieri’s debut album Endless was released in 2009, followed by Lori’s continued collaborations on Panunzi’s subsequent albums, A Rose, Beyond the Illusion, and Pages from the Sea. In 2016, Fjieri released their second album Words Are All We Have, featuring guitarist and singer Jakko Jakszyk of King Crimson. The album was remastered in February 2024, with an additional track, “A Sense of Lost,” composed by Panunzi and Lori.
Lori’s guitar influences include Andrés Segovia, Robert Fripp, David Torn, Gary Green, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Pat Metheny.
Artwork: Nello Dell’Omo
Graphics & Photography: Roberto Albertini
Buy Urban Vision.