Fabrizio Brugnera & Man From Mars - The Conquest of Happiness

Review By Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Fabrizio Brugnera and Man From Mars’ The Conquest of Happiness mixes beautiful melodies, well-chosen instrumentation with a textured, subtle synth tapestry to create deep and detailed musical vignettes. I am drawn to the layered detail and expressive strength in the music on the album.

Melodic composition is clearly a strong point for Fabrizio Brugnera and his collaborator and that’s showcased on 
The Conquest of Happiness. Each melody is clear, memorable and full of rich expression as it unfolds. The way in which the melodies mingle varying emotions gives them strength and creates engagement in me as a listener.

The instruments have been carefully considered on The Conquest of Happiness and that adds to the overall musical impact. The simple cleanliness of the piano, textured richness from the strings and ear-grabbing synths all interlock to explore timbres, textures and emotional states as they unfold. I find myself touched, moved and drawn into the music.

For me, the musical pieces on the album function like individual poems in a collection. Each track is like individual poetic moments, capturing a different emotional state. When all of those small vignettes come together, the result is nuanced and powerful.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Guilt & Shame” begins with worn vinyl record crackles and a warm, distant series of piano chords. The piano flows into a string section, trembling with pained emotion, as it carries a solemn, delicate melody that touches me. The melody is accented by sparkling light as a synth pulse trickles in on a tense high instrument.

Metallic bells tinkle and an underlying bass oscillation shivers through. A light hi-hat touches the track as sweeping wind moves. Drums reverberate below mournful, aching strings that carry the wistful melody out over rippling low end synth. Expressive piano takes up the melody, supported by rich string textures as a violin sings out, dripping with emotion.

Motes of light flicker again and thin synth runs like a silken thread through the music. A dense bass wave washes through as the piano conveys a sorrowful sensation. Higher, undulating synth trickles through in a glittering pattern to accent the piano as it fades.

Fragile, but full synth notes slowly descend in tentative steps, now rebounding out to open “Meaninglessness.” A smooth, broad arpeggio slowly floats underneath elevated, gleaming synth that is full of vulnerable emotion. Vocal ounds call out breathily as the bass rises.  A smoothly flowing arpeggio shifts below as high synth shimmers.

The piano is pleasingly full of longing as emotive strings deepen the melancholy over the shaping drums and swelling bass. The vocal sounds add a living quality as piano and strings soar upward in a surprisingly uplifting melody. Arpeggiating synth waves add more texture as elevated light shines and the track fades into quiet.

“Envy” starts off as far away piano is broken by raised, flashing synth that drifts through, reminiscent of a heart monitor. An airy sonic flow swirls around tremulously drifting piano notes a surging bass oscillation. The piano carries a gently touching melody, deep with a mixture of tenderness and glow. Vibrating, elevated synth moves through while the string section adds shadings of pain.

A huge, arcing arpeggio adds lush weight to the music as bass glides smoothly and the piano’s melody is full of intensely expressed loss. Whorls of synth intertwine through the regretful strings. Elevated piano notes glitter high above the strings which add resonance along with horns that have a brassy ache. The voice over repeats that we are all as one. Arpeggios on string-like synth rise and fall as the piano’s fragile notes drift into silence.

Deep, tidal bass flows as full, open sounds move below trembling piano to open “Boredom.” The piano carries a slowly moving melody full of tenuous, painful feeling. Steady string sounds move while airy noise flutters and bass depths grow into a massive current. The piano repeats an evolving pattern, forming a compelling hypnotic line.

Bright, high synth glimmers in the distance and the low end of the track is full of strength and weight. Swirling, dense sound fills the background as full notes buoy up the delicate piano and the music fades into quiet.

“Fear of Public Opinion” starts as flashing, cascading synth full of intense brightness carries quickly varying arpeggios. A throbbing drumbeat comes in to drive the track forward with accelerative energy. Now the piano melody dances in, full of infectious motion and flickering light, while breezy sound floats below the interwoven piano notes. The steady drumbeat propels the gleaming piano melody.

Trickling chimes glisten above the flying piano as it spins out through the music. The main melody conveys a sense of dynamic forward motion as arpeggios whirl, hard-hitting drums pulse and sparkling synth accents flutter. Background sounds form a cloudy support for the piano. Twinkling chimes and warm chords add a pleasantly reverent, ethereal feeling as the track ends on the smoothly gliding melody.

Organ-like notes add reverberant feeling to “Fatigue” and soft, hissing sounds brush over the top of the organ. The bass depths are touched by worshipful choral synth as round-sounding, distant notes echo out into open space with a bending distortion.

The choral  synths are accented by medium-high synth that creates a glowing line. An oscillating sonic pulse adds texture and lush synths climb as the bass begins to throb underneath. The medium-high, gentle lead synth carries a melody that reaches yearning tendrils upwards as massive bass slips out below like a river.

Now resonant, deep sounds lift the music as extended chords tremble. There’s a hopeful quality to the rounded synth sounds that climb along with choral synths before the organ sound drifts along with a slowly sweeping wind into silence.

Conclusion

The Conquest of Happiness is an album that spills over with emotion, expression and a layered musical exploration of humanity. Fabrizio Brugnera and Man From Mars strike me as a thoughtful, skilled composers with a unique sensibility.