MARCELA BOVIO – Harmonies Unveiled – review

MARCELA BOVIO – Harmonies Unveiled – review
Regio Montana Productions

Is Marcela Bovio my favourite female singer? Depends what day of the week it is. Some days, it’s Ms Bovio, some days it’s Tarja Turunen. Depends where I want to be on the symphonic metal / rock scale of things.

This is waaaaaaaaaay over that end of the scale. Because it’s just vocals and piano. I say just, but this is one of those things I believe the kids call a ‘collab’. For sure, there’s only one pianist but there are another three female vocalists along for the ride.

Obviously Marcela, but there’s Nina Grimm, whom I’m aware of through her IG posts, Mickey Huijsmans, and Marjan Welman. The songs are all originals from Ms Bovio. I’m not sure what it’s called when you cover your own songs so will go with the advertised ‘reimaginings’. So where does that leave us?

Well, some of you might be going who? Tsk. If you listen to symphonic metal, you’ll have heard her vocals, even if you don’t know it. Stream of Passion, Ayreon, The Gentle Storm, The Gathering , Maiden United, Epica. Have a word.

Anyway, it’s an utter delight. Ms Bovio also works as a vocal coach, so it’s no surprise that the close harmony arrangements here are incredible. I won’t bang on about the splendour of ‘Loneliness Anthem #1’, as that’s the sort of thing that never ends well. I’ve been doing it since I first heard it, and no-one needs to deal with that again. Especially, my therapist. Well, barmaid. The other* breath-taking number is ‘Icarus’ from her “Through Your Eye” album, here arranged by the aforementioned Nina Grimm. Well done.

It’s as far away from the world of symphonic metal as you could imagine. But if you’re a fan of “Unprecedented – the piano sessions” from 2017. Well, it’s like that. But with bells on. A remarkable accomplishment. Same piano player, lads. Erik van Ittersum.

Have I forgiven her for forgetting my birthday back in my Patreon days? Of course not. A grudge is for life. But I’m not stupid enough to miss out on this. * they’re all breath-taking, really, but I couldn’t think of a word for more breath-taking that wasn’t German. Noch atemberaubender? Whatever, this, in my world, is essential.

Website place.