Title - 'Invisible'
Artist - Nick D'Virgilio
For those not in the know, on July 3rd, 2020 Nick D'Virgilio (Big Big Train, Spock's Beard, Genesis) will release his brand new sophomore solo album Invisible via Sweetwater Sounds.
Featuring members of Dream Theater, King Crimson, Supertramp, Cheap Trick, The Flower Kings, and even Sophia D’ Virgilio on background vocals, amongst others, Invisible is the second solo studio album by American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician Nick D’Virgilio
The wondrous album comes in, amongst other forms, this lovely CD edition housed in a digipack and includes a booklet with lyrics and credits; along with a second “drum booklet” with precise and detailed information of the gear used in each of the songs.
1. 'Prelude'
2. 'Invisible'
3. 'Turn Your Life Around'
4. 'I’m Gone'
5. 'Money (That’s What I Want)'
6. 'Waiting For No One'
7. 'Snake Oil Salesman'
8. 'Where’s The Passion'
9. 'Mercy'
10. 'Overcome'
11. 'In My Bones'
12. 'Wrong Place, Wrong Time'
13. 'Not My Time To Say Goodbye'
14. 'I Know The Way'
The musical story of a man who is unhappy with where his life has ended up, the album opens with a quite stirring 'Prelude' before the gently melodic orchestrations of the title track then give way to the guitar and drum rock of 'Turn Your Life Around,' with the free flowing synth soft rock vibe of 'I’m Gone' up next.
D'Virgilio's ambient guitar ballad-take of the track written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy, 'Money (That’s What I Want)' is an interesting rendition, and that's backed by both the lo-fi piano cut 'Waiting For No One,' and then the upbeat rocker 'Snake Oil Salesman.'
One of my own personal favorites here is the atmospheric growth found within 'Where’s The Passion' which is backed by the London Underground-sourced intro, and then grunge-like guitar work of 'Mercy.'
More AOR is brought forth on the thunderous prog venture 'Overcome,' which is followed in much the same vein by 'In My Bones,' before another stand out, the sturdy guitar and synth rocker 'Wrong Place, Wrong Time.'
This quite vibrantly enthusiastic and wondrously creative album then rounds out with the mid-tempo 'Not My Time To Say Goodbye,' coming to a close on the foot-tappin' pop rock of 'I Know The Way'
Nick explains, "During down time in my booth – while touring with the Cirque Du Soleil show Totem – I would write music and after a while I started to amass a bunch of riffs, melodies, song ideas, and more."
"The word invisible kept coming to mind. It got me thinking of people that truly have the hard jobs in our world. Or no job at all."
"The outliers. The ones we all take for granted. The ones we will never know but if they were not there then our lives would not be the nearly the same."
"It was at that point I knew I wanted to write a concept record. Something I had never done before. I had the idea and knew it was a concept I wanted to peruse more."
"I studied, I asked questions, I watched, I listened and learned the best that I could. While this story is fiction, I did draw upon some of my own experiences and sprinkled them in throughout."
"The main thing this record did for me is reaffirm my strong belief that we are all here for something. Whether it be small or huge. Whether everyone knows your name or not. We all have a purpose. Find yours.”
With the recording process split between the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London (including full string and brass sections) and the world class Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Invisible boasts star turns from luminaries such as guitarists Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) and Carl Verheyen (Supertramp), bassists Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) and Jonas Reingold (The Flower Kings, Steve Hackett), plus keyboard players Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) and Jem Godfrey (Frost*).
Official Invisible Purchase Links
www.nickdvirgilio.com
Nick D'Virgilio @ Facebook
Nick D'Virgilio @ Twitter