Review: Phil Marinucci

Next up we have two tracks from Phil Marinucci, beginning with the long-gestating epic FLY – and it’s well worth noting just how long this one has been percolating. Originally written in the 80s but never produced, the song resurfaced during the pandemic and was developed over a meticulous two-year studio process, all with the intention of authentically capturing that golden era of AOR and prog rock. Think Yes 90125, ELPowell, Asia, Journey – stacked vocals, layered guitars, lush keyboards, and a big, cinematic production.

FLY opens with a crunching electronic guitar before exploding into a soaring, electro-charged masterpiece. The haunting vocal rightfully takes centre stage as the instrumentation drops back, allowing space to breathe – and it’s that intelligent use of space that makes this track so powerful. Yes, the 80s DNA is strong, but there’s an immediacy here that feels absolutely now. The vocal delivery leans far more 2026 than 1986, pulling the song forward with conviction and urgency.

The verse builds patiently into a richly layered chorus that lands with real impact. At its peak, the vocal almost breaks into a Chris Cornell-esque soar, pushing emotion to the brink without losing control. There’s something fascinating about how the sparse, restrained moments make the bigger sections hit even harder. It’s a little goth, a little pop, a little rock – but ultimately something uniquely Phil. The final crescendo cements it as a track that lingers long after the last note fades.

Following that, Preflyght shifts into darker territory. Shorter, moodier and more ominous, it again showcases Phil’s impressive sense of space and atmosphere. Spoken word samples weave through the track, adding texture and fragmentation in equal measure. It feels like an interlude, a moment suspended in mid-air, but one that absolutely earns its place. It’s brief, it’s intriguing and it’s almost impossible not to hit repeat just to experience it again.

Together, these tracks prove that great songs don’t age – they evolve. Phil Marinucci has taken an idea decades in the making and allowed it to truly take flight. And judging by FLY, the wait was well worth the landing.