Marco Mattei – Age of Fragility (M.P. & Records, 2025)
Italian composer and singer-songwriter Marco Mattei returns with Age of Fragility, a concept album that seamlessly amalgamates rock, pop, and brief progressive rock instrumental passages. Age of Fragility explores themes of isolation, emotional dependence, indifference, and self-sabotage. As a consequence, each track offers a meditation on modern life’s emotional volatility.
Recorded in June 2024 at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, New York, the album features a stellar lineup: Mattei on guitars, bouzouki, and loops; Duilio Galioto on a wide range of keyboards; Tony Levin on electric and acoustic bass; and Jerry Marotta on drums and percussion. Guest appearances include Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar and Jennifer Maidman on vocals, along with contributions from vocalists Dave Bond, Jeff Kightly, and Joe Edelmann.
Mattei, who also served as producer, composed much of the album on piano and keyboards rather than guitar. This shift brought a greater emphasis on harmony, creating alluring, accessible, and moving music that balances simplicity with complexity. According to Mattei, this approach allowed for a more coherent and immersive sound than his previous release, Out of Control.
Artwork is by Bernhard Wösteinrich, with additional design by OndemediE for the Italian edition. All music and lyrics are by Mattei, except “So Fragile,” co-written with Galioto.
Age of Fragility was mixed, mastered, and produced by Mattei. The album is published by Micio Poldo Edizioni Musicali.
Musicians: Marco Mattei on: electric guitars, guitar loops, bouzouki, acoustic guitars, celesta, keyboards, percussion, programming, lead vocals; Duilio Galioto on piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3, Mellotron, Lowrey organ, Rhodes mk1, vox continental, Farfisa compact deluxe, Memory Moog; Jerry Marotta on drums, percussion; Tony Levin on electric bass, upright bass; Dave Bond on lead vocals, backing vocals; Malena Ramonet on lead and backing vocals; Tino Boley on lead vocals; Jennifer Maidman on voice; Trey Gunn on Warr guitar; Jeff Kightly on lead and backing vocals; Peter Voronov on violin; Joe Edelmann on lead and backing vocals; María Betania Hernández on cello, viola, violin; Wrongonyou on lead and backing vocals; Michele Boni on cavaquinho; and Katrin Romanova on harp.
Track List :
1 – Just Tired (7:52)
2 – You don’t deserve it (3:39)
3 – Human Again (3:42)
4 – Wrong (3:29)
5 – Insomnia (5:25)
6 – A Trick of the Mind (4:49)
7 – Watermark in my Heart (3:04)
8 – So fragile (4:22)
9 – End of the Line (6:01)
10 – Just Tired (Extended Version) (11:09)
Buy Age of Fragility.