Scott's Song by Song #51: Nad Sylvan - Monumentata
Welcome to issue #51 of Scott’s Song By Song (#scottssongbysong).For more information about this series, click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/Gc2VkwHQWGLdeaDd/?mibextid=oFDknk
This week, I’ll be taking a deep dive into the latest solo album from Swedish/American vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Nad Sylvan. Many of my readers may know him from his work as the lead vocalist on Steve Hackett’s Genesis Revisited tours. He has also long been a solo artist and has been part of Unifawn and Agents of Mercy with Roine Stolt. This latest album is his eighth and titled “Monumentata” released in late June of this year. In an interview on the “Misplaced Straws” website (https://misplacedstraws.com/2025/06/a-conversation-with-vocalist-nad-sylvan-2.html), Nad reveals:
–Begin Quote–
On if he had any trepidation about writing such a personal record – There was. There was some moments I was thinking, “Am I gonna let it all hang out?” But this time around, I felt why not just go almost all the way, this is me. This is, I think my fans, my devoted fans I’ve had for years and years. They’re so lovely. They send me gifts. They are just absolutely wonderful, wonderful fans. They deserve to get the real me they get, they deserve to get to know who they’re really talking to, if they’re gonna worship me this much. They gotta know who they’re worshiping. I’m almost quoting Joni Mitchell now, but that’s what she said. But they deserve that.
So, I’m exposing more of who I am as a person. My sexuality, I’m a gay man and I never said anything about it, but I thought, “What the fuck? I’m 66, who’s gonna care?” Most people have gay friends. I just thought that probably people know. They understand. “That must be the case with Nad”. But it was never discussed. It was never out in the open. I just felt like, “Okay, it comes from me now”. So, just so you know, this is me. But that’s just a little fracture of the whole being that I am. It’s so much more to [who] I am. But anyway, that felt like a nice outlet, and I was yearning to do that.
–End Quote–
As with many of his albums, he has a long list of notable proggers:
Players:
Me (Nad Sylvan)- lead & backing vocals, keyboards, electric- & acoustic guitars, bass, percussion
David Kollar - solo guitar ("Secret Lover" & "Make Somebody Proud")
Randy McStein - rhythm & slide guitar ("Secret Lover & "Flowerland")
Neil Whitford - ambient guitar ("Flowerland")
Nick Beggs - bass ("Wildfire")
Tony Levin - bass ("That´s Not Me" & "Monumentata")
Jonas Reingold - bass ("Secret Lover" & "Make Somebody Proud")
Marco Minnemann - drums ("Secret Lover" & "Wildfire")
Mirko De Maio - drums ("That´s Not Me", "Monte Carlo Priceless" & "Flowerland")
Felix Lehrmann - drums ("Make Somebody Proud", "I'm Stepping Out" & "Monumentata"
Joe Deninzon - violin ("I´m Stepping Out")
Lalle Larsson - synth solo ("Wildfire")
Jade Ell & Sheona Urquhart Smångs - backing vocals ("Make Somebody Proud")
As usual, this is a “cold listen” and “I call it like I hear it”. Let’s dig in!
Track 1 - Secret Lover (7:03)
The song quietly fades in with a high-pitch rhythmic tone that is taken over by a rockin’ guitar riff. When the rhythm section kicks in it’s time to bob your head. Nad’s vocals fall somewhere between Ian Gillan and Genesis era Peter Gabriel. I am loving this! Looking at the credits, we have Randy McStine, Jonas Reingold and Marco Minneman playing the basic track here, a formidable trio indeed! This track GROOVES! Kollar’s guitar solo is excellent, well-developed with just enough razzle-dazzle. He is from Slovakia and has worked with the likes of Pat Mastellotto and Steven Wilson in the past. There is a dreamy bridge following the solo. Then we get back into the groove as the song fades out. What a great opener!
Track 2 - That’s Not Me (5:19)
It appears that Tony Levin and Mirko De Maio (The Flower Kings) are the only guests on this, making an awesome rhythm section. This one has a tight riff with an occasional odd meter measure. Another groove takes over at around one minute and Nad begins singing. The chorus kicks in with the introduction riff. There is a bit of funkiness in this track as well. I really like this one as well. It follows nicely from the opener. I like the vocal harmonies near the end. Terrific track!
Track 3 - Monte Carlo Priceless (5:38)
According to Nad in the same interview referenced above, Nad states that this song is about: “ this beaten-up woman who just escapes from Nova Scotia to Monte Carlo has a facelift and [be]comes a prostitute.” Nad begins with a vocal pick-up before the keys join him. Mirko De Maio is the drummer here as well, but no other musicians are credited. This one is a bit more mid-tempo and acoustic guitar based. I like the easy going feel of it. It gives me Steven Wilson vibes at times from the chord progressions and arrangements. There is a cool synth solo at around 4 minutes. There is a false ending with around 40 seconds remaining. The acoustic guitar strum resumes, backed by a synth-wash and then he re-states some of the opening lines of the song.
Track 4 - Flowerland (5:09)
Once again in the same interview, Nad tells us that “‘Flowerland’ is about this old hippie couple that is reminiscing about the youth. They were probably at the Woodstock festival at some point, and they’re still together, but they’re old potheads, so they don’t remember that much.” This begins with an acoustic phrase before the band kicks in. Mirko DeMaio remains on drums, Randy McStein returns, and Neil Whitford provides “ambient guitar”. This one is slightly more upbeat than its predecessor. I like the change of beat at around 1 minute. Nice harmonies on the chorus. There is a cool bridge around 2:40. I love the low end synth sound at around 3:35; sort of like a clavinet. Nice track.
Track 5 - Wildfire (6:30)
Guest musicians here are bassist Nick Beggs (Steve Hackett, Lifesigns, Steven Wilson, Fish on Friday, and way back when, Kajagoogoo), Marco Minneman (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, and numerous others), and Lalle Larson (The Flower Kings) provides a synth solo. Quite the cast of characters! Let's see what they do! Beggs is prominent from the beginning. This one is rockin’ a bit harder. The organ lines remind me of Rick Wakeman. There is a softer section before they kick in hard again. I like the echo effect on Nad’s voice at around 2 minutes that is very effective. I like the contrast between the heavier and lighter segments. Larson’s solo smokes! This might be my favorite so far. Nice drum fill from Minneman at around the 5-minute point. This song is very dramatic, and I love that!
Track 6 - Make Somebody Proud (6:01)
Guests here include: Jonas Reingold on bass again, David Kollar (guitar solo), Felix Lehrmann (ex-Flower Kings, Steve Hackett) on drums, and Jade Ell & Sheona Urquhart Smångs provide backing vocals. This one fades in with a syncopated rhythmic pattern. The ladies do a nice job on the backing vocals. Lots of odd-meter riffage here. Nice high note from Nad just after 2 minutes. Very proggy at 2:50. Kollar’s solo hits at around 3:50, and the tempo goes double-time! Awesome! The original tempo returns following the instrumental break. Another terrific track!
Track 7 - I’m Stepping Out (5:02)
Felix Lehrmann remains on drums, and Joe Deninzon (currently with Kansas, and Stratospheerius) provides a violin solo. The intro reminds me of “Fernando’s Hideaway”, fun! Kind of a tango. The riff continues as Nad begins singing. He sings a nice melody over the top; smooth and sustained over the syncopated rhythm. The style lends itself well to a violin solo. This is a very fun track!
Track 8 - Monumentata (5:13)
On this song, Tony Levin is back on the bass, which is fitting, as this one borrows ideas from the other track he plays on, “That’s Not Me”, according to Sylvan in the same interview. Lehrmann remains on drums. It begins with beautiful piano playing. After the intro, it becomes a piano ballad. Nice vocal harmonies at 1:25. Could that be a mellotron behind the piano? This is much more of a ballad than “That’s Not Me”, even though it may share some chord progressions. A peaceful close to the album proper.
Track 9 - Unkillable (Bonus track) (3:48)
I normally don’t include bonus tracks in my reviews, but since this one seems to be widely available , I will include it. There is no indication as to who guests on it, if anyone. It begins with a strummed acoustic at a moderately fast tempo. Bass, keys, and what I believe is a drum machine join in prior to the vocals. There are some good melodies and harmonies here. I like the term “Unkillable” as he uses it here. I know he did a vampire trilogy of albums earlier, could this be a reference to that?
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
Nad and his all-star friends have delivered a very enjoyable entertaining album here with nary a weak track among them. There is diversity of styles, yet a continuity to the tracks. The playing is wonderful as are Nad’s vocals. I’ll give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended.
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Prog On!
Scott
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LINKS FOR LISTENING/BUYING:
I have found 4 YouTube videos:
Monumentata (official video)
https://youtu.be/m47aIQHvl3s
That’s Not Me (Official video)
https://youtu.be/5WyD5bIAHdA
I’m Stepping Out (Official Video)
https://youtu.be/pPDTwRifpdw
Monte Carlo Priceless (Official Audio)
https://youtu.be/Wpjp2VINJP8
And here is the Bandcamp link for purchase:
https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/monumentata-bonus-track-edition-24-b
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