Even the title here betrays the album’s vulnerabilities. “Monumentata”, according to Nad Sylvan, is a word he invented after the death of his parents. He reasoned that it feels “monumental” and added “Tata” – the Hungarian word for “father” – at the end (his dad was Hungarian).
He also reckons that three-quarters of the lyrics relate to his real life.
All of which – self-evidently – means that this fifth solo record is different to the previous four. Those albums, by and large, saw Sylvan hide behind his “Vampirate” persona. It suited him, because anyone who’s seen him with Steve Hackett knows just how good he is at the theatrics. But he’s no more the Vampirate than he is Cotton Eye Joe (yes, that was him in the ’90s), and perhaps not for nothing is the second song here called “That’s Not Me.”
The subtext is clear: but this is.
The song itself neatly sums up the album. It’s prog (and let’s be honest, you really only want Nad Sylvan to sing prog), but it’s fresh and modern.
The longest song on the record kicks things off. “Secret Lover” signposts this brave new world too. You can imagine its hard rock stylings on a modern-day Deep Purple record, and it’s a standout moment.
By the third track, though, he’s merrily galloping down other roads. “Monte Carlo Princess” is as dreamy as it is gorgeous, floating by as Sylvan sings: “You may stay alive until you’ve lived your dreams.”
A poignant moment, superbly followed by the pop stylings of “Flowerland” – a mix of fine guitars and airy harmonies – and the bass groove and grandiosity of “Wildflower,” which soars in all the right places.
The ’80s vibe of “Make Somebody Proud” draws you in, and it becomes the most traditionally “prog” thing on the record. The simply beautiful title track – beginning with a fragile piano played by Sylvan himself – leaves questions unanswered, but it’s supposed to. “I’m the next in line,” he sings, as if wrestling with his mortality.
The summer sounds of “Unkillable” close things on an upbeat note, and despite the heavy origins of the title track, by and large, this is an optimistic-sounding album, as though Nad Sylvan is embracing his newfound vulnerability.
It suits him – because “Monumentata” is arguably his best solo work.
Rating: 9/10
