Marco Bernard – Moby Dick

 

Marco Bernard – Moby Dick 

A double journey through myth, identity, and sonic memory

 

With Moby Dick, Marco Bernard delivers a work that goes far beyond the boundaries of a solo album. It’s a two-part project, complementary and deeply intertwined: on one side, a concept album inspired by Melville’s novel, reimagining the white whale as a symbol of our times; on the other, a collection of covers that pays tribute to Bernard’s musical roots and personal passions. Released by Seacrest Oy as a double CD and a transparent vinyl edition with gatefold sleeve, the album reflects Bernard’s artisanal and collaborative approach to music-making.

The first disc, which gives the project its name, is a compact yet dense concept album structured as a six-part journey. Each track corresponds to a pivotal moment in the novel, but the narrative doesn’t merely illustrate the plot — it transforms it, distills it, and turns it into a mirror of the present, where obsession with success and the loss of collective meaning collide like opposing currents. The whale is no longer just an enemy to be vanquished, but a silent guide toward deeper awareness. The ocean, vast and unknowable, becomes a metaphor for the unconscious and the tensions that inhabit the human soul.

Musically, the album flows through layered melodies, intricate rhythms, and arrangements that alternate between ethereal lyricism and dramatic intensity. The compositions — by Alessandro Di Benedetti, Octavio Stampalia, Linus Kåse, Mimmo Ferri, Marco Grieco, and David Myers — maintain a surprising narrative and tonal coherence. The diversity of styles doesn’t disrupt the flow; it enriches it, as if each composer contributed to a collective fresco shaped by Bernard’s overarching vision.

It’s worth highlighting the strong Italian presence throughout the project. Bernard himself, though based in Finland, is Italian, and many of the composers and performers hail from Italy’s progressive scene. This lends the album a melodic sensitivity and expressive depth that resonate with Italian tradition while remaining firmly rooted in an international context.

The second disc, Undercover Deux, is a personal and affectionate tribute to songs that have shaped the history of progressive and classic rock. Bernard approaches these compositions with the same care and collaborative spirit as the concept album. These are not mere stylistic exercises — they are living reinterpretations, respectful yet never imitative, revealing a precise musical taste and remarkable adaptability. From Rush to Zappa, Boston to PFM, each track is entrusted to a different lineup, with solo vocalists adding color and dynamism to the listening experience. The disc closes with an original piece based on a bass solo by Michael Manring, perfectly aligned with the project’s spirit — a bridge between memory and invention, tribute and creation.

One element that deserves special attention is the artwork by Ed Unitsky. Although I haven’t had the chance to see the vinyl edition firsthand, the CD version already reveals an extraordinary level of visual care. Unitsky’s imagery translates the album’s symbolic universe into form, making every detail an integral part of the narrative experience. It’s a collaboration that continues to surprise and elevate the music it accompanies.

Another essential aspect is the production method: Moby Dick was created entirely remotely, with musicians scattered across continents. Yet the result is remarkably cohesive. This speaks to Bernard’s ability to build bridges, to coordinate diverse visions and talents with precision and sensitivity. Teamwork is a defining trait of his approach — already evident in the projects of The Samurai of Prog, of which he is a founding member and creative engine.

In the end, Moby Dick is a work that blends storytelling, reflection, and musical craftsmanship. A double journey — one introspective, the other celebratory — that reaffirms progressive rock’s vitality as a poetic and critical language. An album that doesn’t just tell a story, but invites us to reread it, rewrite it, and live it anew.

 

CD 1 – Moby Dick

1.   Loomings

2.   The Quarter Deck

3.   Fastfish, Loosefish

4.   The Quadrant

5.   The Chase

6.   Epilogue (bonus track, esclusa dalla versione LP)

CD 2 – Undercover Deux

1.   Anthem

2.   Good Times Bad Times

3.   Uncle Remus

4.   Foreplay / Long Time

5.   In the Dead of Night

6.   Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway

7.   Impressioni di Settembre

8.   Stories of the Sea

Musicians

Moby Dick Marco Bernard – Shuker basses Alessandro Di Benedetti – keyboards Riccardo Spilli – drums Carmine Capasso – electric guitar Michael Trew – vocals Giovanni Mazzotti – flute Octavio Stampalia – keyboards Tony Riveryman – electric guitar Marcelo Ezcurra – vocals Steve Unruh – violin, vocals Linus Kåse – keyboards, sax, vocals Erik Hammarström – drums Johan Öijen – electric guitar Sonja Kåse – acoustic guitar Mimmo Ferri – keyboards, guitars Kimmo Pörsti – drums Marco Grieco – keyboards David Myers – grand piano.

Undercover Deux Marco Bernard – Shuker and Rickenbacker basses Carmine Capasso – electric guitar, theremin Sean Francis – lead vocals Ovidio Catanzano – drums Steph Honde – lead vocals Kimmo Pörsti – drums Marco Grieco – keyboards, vocals, acoustic guitar Yannick Papail – lead vocal Valentina Bruno – backing vocals Tony Riveryman – electric guitar Stefano Vicarelli – keyboards Steve Unruh – acoustic guitar, drums, percussion Len Audsley – lead vocals Dennis Mahon – lead vocals, keyboards Hans Jörg Schmitz – drums Michael Manring – Zon Hyperbass