![[Image]](../../Images/markonee.jpg)
More Info: www.markonee.com
Verdict (Rating): An album that will appeal to fans who like this style of no frills rocking (75%)
"The Spirit Of The Radio" is the subject of this concept album by Italian rockers Markonee. Quite a bold move for a debut album. The album story focuses on Marconi, his first radio transmission and it's impact upon the world.
The style of music and indeed the album's concept make it impossible for me to think of Markonee without thinking of Tesla. They both play gutsy hard rock/metal with a down to earth attitude. And they've both got albums about Radio - The Spirit Of The Radio & The Great Radio Controversy.
"Every Beat Of My Heart" is an up-tempo rocking start. The song picks up on the chorus which curiously is quite low in the mix. That Tesla feeling is possibly at it's strongest on "Loved Land". The vocals have a gruff 'just swallowed a handful of razor blades' quality - the guy from Nazareth meets Bon Scott. In fact, this is a good thing - it helps the band develop an identity of their own. "The Needle Eye" is a determined sounding track with definite riff propelling it along. Not bad, but you get the impression that a better production job would have beefed it up and made it more convincing.
By the time "Discovery" reaches your ears the vocals seem to have fought their way to the front of the mix and that 'demo' feel that plagues the earlier tracks moves further into the background. "Movin' To America" is more mid-tempo rocking which is the area where the band seem to feel comfortable. They adopt a "leave 'em rockin'" policy by closing the album with the up-tempo "Modern Time Clockwork"
Markonee work their way through a set of no nonsense mid-tempo to up-tempo rockers. The songs have a honest quality about them and that appeals to me. I can't say that Markonee are breaking any new ground musically - it has all been done before during the 80 by bands like the aforementioned Tesla. In one sense Tesla have done a lot of the ground work with me on Markonee's behalf. Tesla were a band that always impressed me for their hard working attitude and always came across as good guys in the press. In my mind I seem to have bestowed those same qualities to Markonee.
As far as the concept album thing is concerned, to be honest, at a superficial level, the album doesn't feel like a concept album. The songs can all stand on their own merits. It is only when you take the time to listen to the lyrics or read the lyric sheet that you realize that the band have put in a good deal of effort in this department. All credit to them, it makes a pleasant change from the usual banal subject of metal tunes.
I have to admit that on the first listen I wasn't that impressed with what I was hearing. I got that been there done that feeling. However, after a few more listens I can't help but like this album.
