Multi-instrumentalist Dario and his prog ensemble, Dario and the Clear, have released “Banquet of Noise,” the third album in his pop, rock, progressive trilogy reflecting the world’s journey politically and socially over the last several years.

The album marks the return of impressive collaborations with Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Eric Person (Ben Harper), Sue Leonard (back-up vocalist for k.d. lange), and experimental guitar player, Gabriel Marin, all of whom are ideal matches instrumentally for Dario’s diverse and expressive sound palette.

Says Dario, “‘Banquet of Noise’ is the last of what I call the trilogy. First album being ‘Optic Nerve’ followed by ‘Reflective Touch.’ ‘Banquet of Noise’ was to me a perfect ending for the trilogy. I started writing ‘Optic Nerve’ at the height of covid and when I finished that recording, I thought I was done with what I had to say… But that was not the case two weeks later and went back into the studio to work on ‘Optic Nerve.’”

“And then the same thing happened again. I thought I was done with what I had to say but then I worked on ‘Banquet of Noise.’ And the reason and the inspiration for the trilogy was really based on current events and just a constant bombardment of news and the chaos happening in the world. It was way too much for me to write about, so I had to keep writing the alms. It was non-stop for three and a half years.”

1. Recall (4:17)
2. Self Disclosure (3:19)
3. Love Has Won (3:47)
4. Angels Crying (5:09)
5. Convicting Silence (5:19)
6. Star-Crossed Lovers (3:39)
7. Gotto Contro Topo (4:44)
8. Banquet of Noise (4:53)

This magnificently propulsive album opens on the thunderously melodic Recall and the low slung rocker Self Disclosure and follow those up with the rhythmically entrancing Love Has Won and the Americana-hued Angels Crying .

Along next is the hauntingly ethereal rock of Convicting Silence and that is in turn backed by the pop goth-lite vibe of Star -Crossed Lovers, the album rounding out on the strident Gotto Contro Topo, closing on the industrially jaunty, pop rock of the titular Banquet of Noise.

Dario and the Clear @ Facebook