ELEGANT SIMPLICITY – BEFORE THE END PART III (Bandcamp) (2025)

“The third and final volume in the 'Before the End' series; a collection of non-album tracks and assorted songs brought together from the years 2022 to 2025. Like the previous instalments, everything here has been carefully remastered and sequenced to work as a cohesive album in its own right.”

‘Just Another Goodbye’ begins the album with “a touch of fusion”. The vignette ‘Project B’ sounds unfinished, electronic in style along with the more substantial ‘Project A’. All instrumental, Steven McCabe’s fluid guitar runs are much in evidence ‘In Fa Mi’. ‘Zero Matter’, at 6:40, is a substantial synth dominant piece which has drummer Maurizio Antononi and bassist Hector Ruano on board. This track is also embellished by Giulia Cacciavillani on flute. ‘Groundfall II’ has the same musicians in a complex melange of demonstrative rock while ‘Northbound Flux’ is heavier rock with frantic synth before an organ/ bassline move in then Nathan Madsen on sax has a blow, guitar developing the theme. ‘Before and After’ features Manuel Trabucco on sax alongside some mesmerising guitar runs punctuated by a more pastoral section. ‘Falling Dust’ is more of a ballad before we head out with more heavy rock on ‘During and Between’, concluding the ‘Before the End’ series. Exploring the layers of music will reveal some nice surprises. What’s next for Elegant Simplicity?