AETHER - III

The Milanese prog quartet Aether release their third album "III", which confirms them as an established presence within the Italian jazz-rock and instrumental progressive scene. The lineup — Andrea Ferrari (guitars and keyboards), Andrea Serino (piano and keyboards), Andrea Grumelli of Sincopatici (bass), and Teo Ravelli (the mastermind behind Borda) on drums — is characterized above all by a solid technique, an essential trait for anyone hoping to be taken seriously in this musical universe.

The constant interplay between the musicians can't help but evoke the seventies, and in particular the instrumental bands of the Canterbury scene, from Hatfield And The North to National Health. Within this context, Andrea Ferrari's guitar work adopts a style that may feel foreign to the classic Canterbury sound, leaning instead toward the frenetic prog of Robert Fripp. This duality makes Aether's discography, and "III" in particular, decidedly compelling for fans of contemporary progressive music. Guest appearances abound too, from Rosarita Crisafi on flute to Claudio Milano's turn on "Vogon", where he lends his unmistakable voice with a theatricality worthy of Demetrio Stratos. Technique is certainly central to the album, but it's deployed with elegance and never becomes intrusive, remaining constantly in service of the atmospheres that carry the six tracks.

Among these, "La Mélancolie Du Petit Prince" stands out for its magical atmosphere, ideally inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous tale and, from a pianistic standpoint, by Ian Underwood of the Mothers Of Invention in his more classical compositions (for instance, "The Little House I Used To Live In"). This is refined music that might bring György Ligeti to mind, always within the bounds of erudite jazz, yet never losing touch with a rock-oriented audience. An album that confirms Aether as one of the most interesting outfits in Italian prog today.

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14/07/2026