Album review: FRANCK CARDUCCI – Torn Apart

Franck Carducci [Release date 09.01.15]

Multi instrumentalist Franck Carducci is a Frenchman who moved to Holland to find his blues tinged prog rock niche.

He tells us that during his musical formative years he played with upwards of 20 different bands and on 15 different albums. ‘Torn Apart’ suggests he’s clearly absorbed a raft of influences that are grounded in the likes of Yes, Genesis, Rush and Crimson.

From the opening collision of Govt Mule with Yes’s ‘Heart of Sunrise’ and ‘Starship Trooper’, to the enveloping organ sweep and hard riffing guitar work, Frank Carducci pursues a glorious retro feel allied to his essential prog rock outlook.

On the evidence of the opening title track alone, he’s a guitar player who lives for those intense moments when one eloquent phrase can define a piece of music. And there’s plenty of intensity here, with intermeshed instrumental passages, fiery solos, soaring harmonies and inspired prog rock.

‘Torn Apart’ could easily have been recorded in the early 70’s but it’s full of contemporary production values that make gives the opening 10 minutes, 17 seconds of the ripping title track its intensity. Just when you think it’s finished it rises again with a final crescendo in the manner of the long forgotten Dutch prog band Trace.

‘Close To Irreversible’ sounds almost restrained in contrast, but builds purposely to find its own sense of grandeur, full of subtle dynamics and a gorgeous bluesy guitar break form Steve Hackett.

The keyboard led ‘Journey Through The Mind’ lives up to its proggy, psychedelic title with Richard Vecchi’s extravagant synth and organ work, tempered by Roy van Oost’s plaintive flute, Franck’s own sitar part and a brief harmony vocal with Mary Reynaud. It bursts forth with instrumental colour, lush harmonies and a melodic undertow.

Much like the 10cc influenced ‘Girlfriend For A Day’, ‘Artificial Love’ is a link-piece with backward sounding guitars that leads into the four part, 12 minute suite of the splendidly titled ‘A Brief Tale of Time’.

The piece initially sounds like Genesis, but Franck’s resonant vocal soon emulates Yes’s Jon Anderson on a coherent and linear musical journey.

There’s a change of pace on the acoustic, second part of the suit ‘Higher And Higher’, complete with intricate percussion, bv’s and interwoven guitar and keyboard parts. The staccato and nightmarish ‘2078: Möbius Strip’, features Vecchi again on an array of keys and leads to a guitar and piano resolution with a brief vocal duet. A delicate piano-led ending brings us to the end of an engaging musical journey.

Franck rocks out on ‘Mr Hyde & Dr, Jekyll’ with Michael Strobel on strident lead guitar, while ‘Artificial Paradises’ again features his Jon Anderson style vocal, and an extravagant Yes style synth break as part of a symphonic finish. Much like the album as a whole, it’s probably musically stronger than his lyrics.

Supertramp’s ‘School’ provides a bonus track and confirms his ability as a musician and arranger who aims high and impressively hits the ground running. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)