The Soft-Prog project “DECEPTION STORE” (Emporio dell’Inganno) Osmosis, by Merano-based artist Marco Pantozzi, is the new album, five years after his debut album, “Pindaric Flights” (Ma.ra.cash records).

Unlike their previous work (well-received by international critics and produced in the South Tyrolean city with established local musicians, directed by producer Joe Chiericati), this time Deception Store found itself working in Emilia: not only involving three times as many musicians, but also taking advantage of some well-known names in the Italian Prog-Rock scene, such as Gigi Cavalli Cocchi, Vincenzo Ricca, and Max Repetti: artists with vast experience, who regularly collaborate, or have often collaborated, with musicians of truly international stature such as Steve Hackett, David Jackson, Greg Lake, Ian Anderson, Tony Levin, Bernardo Lanzetti, Ligabue, and many others.

Precisely because of these numerous interconnections between different artists, but also because of the author’s penchant for different musical genres (above all, Pink Floyd-style symphonic soft rock, but also instrumental ambient and a certain type of singer-songwriter pop), the album will be titled “OSMOSIS”: a true blend of different sensibilities, styles, and genres, resulting in a rich and varied body of work, capable of appealing to a wide range of tastes.

Compared to the debut of Deception Store, it’s worth noting that this album will be sung in Italian, not English, as was the case with the debut of “Pindaric Flights.” It will also feature two entirely instrumental tracks as well as two duets with two young singers from Piacenza. The music and lyrics are by Pantozzi himself, with some co-writing credits from Vincenzo Ricca (The Rome Pro(g)ject), Max Repetti (Greg Lake, Annie Barbazza), and guitarist Mike Frajria, his first mentor.

The album, 10 tracks for a full 43 minutes, was recorded at Elfo Studio Recording in Piacenza, under the expert direction of Alberto Callegari.