What can happen if three individuals meet in one band, of whom Francesco Proietti (keyboards, acoustic guitar, vocals) counts Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Dream Theater among his musical idols; Simone Cozzeto (guitar, bass, vocals) mentions David Gilmur, Steve Hackett, John Petrucci and Steve Lukater, and Elisa Benedetti (vocals) prefers such "non-obvious" vocalists as Björk and Eivør? Let's add that they are all co-creators of the project and know each other from the conservatory. And to pique your interest they formed a band called Border Hill and have just released their first, debut album. Let's add right away that the recording session was also attended by: Ivo Di Traglia (drums) and Andrea Zanzarri (bass). And this is not the end of the gradation of information tension - this is only the first degree.
Before I move on to the second level, let us quote a certain quote: "(...) Imagination without reason produces impossible monsters; with reason it becomes the mother of the arts and the source of their miracles". These words are a quote from the inscription that Francisco Goya placed on a copy of the engraving Capricho no. 43. Where and why Goya? This artist and his works from the so-called dark period are mentioned by the keyboardist of the band Francesso Proietti as the main inspiration accompanying the creation of the album that has just been released. "The mystery, drama and fear conveyed in these works awakened in me an unprecedented fascination, related to the fears of my childhood. I read books on the subject and conducted extensive research to best convey the emotions that I personally experienced" - states Francesso. This is the second level that, I hope, increases interest in the album entitled "Border Hill".
The third, most important, level is the release itself, consisting of nine compositions, and it begins with an instrumental invitation to the land of shadow, darkness, uncanniness, fear, dread... two minutes long, flowing, seemingly gentle, yet somehow incredible. The synthesizer sounds of the composition "Sabbath" create a gentle-dark atmosphere and it is up to you whether you want to take a step further and listen to the song "The Dream of Flying".
The song begins with a melodic introduction and... long Gilmour-like guitar sounds that accompany the narrative-sounding vocal line. The combination of music and vocals is perfect, and the dominant role of the transmitted content over the music, which plays a subservient role, gives the listener the opportunity to think more closely about the transmitted content and its essence. And the text carries images of fear and anxiety: "(...) Be ready, time is up / We'll find a way through the clouds / Every child's nightmare / Fear when you close your eyes". With all this, despite the very decisive and brave vocals, it is an unhurried song. An interesting trick is the inclusion of melodeclamation in the final part, which does not sound like a consolation, lyrical ending, but rather resembles the tone of a grandfather's or grandmother's story about fears hidden in the dark.
“When Reason Sleeps It Generates Monsters” with its vocal duet deserves special attention. The unhurried rhythm of the previous track also dominates this one. However, with the difference that here it resounds even more melodically, which in combination with the lyrics makes us deal with a seemingly cheerful song. This apparentness becomes visible in the following lines of the lyrics: “(…) What would you do / If you saw your world falling apart? / Would you soar if all your hopes turned out to be unfulfilled dreams?” Musical lyricism combined with the drama of the lyrics.
Fog is always somehow connected with fear and anxiety. It surrounds everything, sticks to everything. And this atmosphere of some unconscious fear can be felt in the composition "Into the Mist". It is a six-minute song written for vocals, guitar and synthesizers with an unusual melodic line. All you have to do is close your eyes and... you can overcome the fog. All you have to do is let yourself be carried away by the next, balsamic sounds.
Also in the next song entitled "The Small Town", the band, under the guise of lightness, slightly country sound, tells a story about a musician whose heart broke with longing. "Małe miasto" is simply a beautiful song with dramatic lyrics.
“The Door” once again draws the listener into the world of darkness. “(…) A cathedral full of useless, lofty, unfulfilled dreams / Old fears plot revenge from the bowels of the earth / Choirs of lost hopes demand their grave on the surface / ghosts of the past march in line, ready to fight / Only one door prevents the end of this cruel world.” And once again it must be said that the combination of beautiful musical passages, atmospheric arrangement and wonderfully led vocal line make the listener not feel the drama of the content, but let themselves be carried away by the melody. They let themselves be transported into the world of unearthly sounds.
If the previous songs were more or less in a gentle, melodic tone, then "Saturn" starts off decidedly prog metal. The lyrics are also appropriate for the melody: "(...) When power, sadness and stupidity are connected by fate / Strange creatures darken the mind, allowing the beast to break free / Six five four three two one, I can't anymore / No time to waste, Zeus I have to save them". Despite the metal character, we don't have any acrobatic instrumental displays here. The structure of the melody is subordinated to the content being conveyed, the images being shown. Similarly, which is a plus in my opinion, we don't have the "overly operatic" vocals that appear in this type of songs, and the final guitar solo gives it a unique character.
Since we are already letting the band lead us through the lands of darkness, feelings of sadness, despair and fear, let us allow ourselves to "enter" the haunted mansion. "The Haunted Mansion" - this is the title of a nearly three-minute composition full of incredible sounds that can be heard against the background of playing instruments.
The last track on the album is a song called "Giant". And it begs to be said while listening to this fragment of the album: enter further into the world of maybe dark, maybe scary, but musically melodic and gently lulling stories. "(...) Come and listen / Sit close to me / Open your mind / And embrace me / Where life seems to float on the wind / Let the truth find its way / And at night think that you are not alone / Among these / Border Hills". Does it sound like a fairy tale? Maybe so. It sounds addictive, incredibly melodic and magnetic.
What characterizes this album? Its incredible melodiousness and the mood it creates. I think you could call this release a musical fairy tale, a phenomenon. All the songs are so unhurried and, despite the issues raised, joyful. This "discord" between the dramatic content and the gentleness of the music is a special feature that distinguishes the album from others. The dramatic content is conveyed in a somehow unreal way, like dreams from which we sometimes wake up drenched in sweat, and sometimes full of a cheerful smile. An interesting trick is the vocal duet, which additionally dramatizes the message. One could compare Elisa Benedetti's voice to the vocalists of the band Karnataka, but without a doubt its narrative tone works well on the album.
Paraphrasing the last two lines of the song "Giant" ("Will this story have an end to tell Who knows..." - note by RP), there is only one question left to be decided: will this story continue? Will the band have enough strength and inspiration for the next step, for the next album? I hope so, because as the popular saying goes: the first step is the hardest. And I recommend the entire album to fans of magical sounds. And I think I will have to take another look at this... Francisco Goya and his paintings.
