COSARARA

CosaRara have been around for about a decade but are now releasing their full-length debut. The band hails from the northern Italian towns of Nizza Monferrato and Asti. The album is entirely instrumental with some occasional sound samples. I initially thought of many of the somewhere obscure Italian bands who played all or mostly instrumental rock, names like Mary Newsletter, Colster, Stereokimono, Akt, Tilion, Lethean, and Sunscape. Bits and pieces of these albums came flooding back to me as I listened to CosaRara.

Five long (and one short) tracks take you on a musical journey, a trip not garishly psychedelic but instrumental rock with plenty of mood and color throughout, perhaps residual psych. The partnership of guitar and keyboards are the main drivers, the guitar playing can veer toward the Porc Tree heavy edge at times but is just as often light and contemplative, with soft ringing chord patterns in melancholic moods. The keys come up with many interesting sounds and I really loved the playing style, so complimentary and often as much the backbone as the guitar. There are some splendid interludes here and there which feature solo keys or a bit of flute, beautiful moments that provide breathing space between the heavier sections. The songs are evocative and thankfully uplifting. The modern world is such a drag that I don't need music to reinforce that--but music that feels hopeful, at least to some extent, is much appreciated in these times.

With each listen I found myself drifting a bit more into the sound, hearing things I missed on the previous play, enjoying especially the way this band truly plays off of each other. It is an integrated and symbiotic sound, and quite universal and timeless. A very good beginning for CosaRara and I'll be hoping for more!

COSARARA - just another example where the crew name hits the nail right on the head, so to say. As there are many bands underway nowadays, who make use of a psych orientation somehow, this crew hailing from Northern Italy is rather examplary for a clear prog style ... and for a quite unique appearance. Although the musicianship reaches for a high level regarding all members, I especially want to highlight the multi-variant keyboard and guitar appearance by Francesca Goria and Andrea Onesti, that paired with excellent interplay on top of it.

While considering this their debut, it might be quite astonishing for one or two. On the other hand, the band is existing since more than 10 years already. Thus we could come to the common agreement, that they have took their time to work out something exceptional in the end. So here we have another album which I really learned to like over the course. You may listen to this while doing other things, for example playing at cards with friends, and it sounds quite well at least. But then again, this is something which deserves high concentration too, and then one will explore the real beauty, sooner or later.

The sound comes rather moog, piano and mellotron pregnant, one trademark to remark. Including some heaviness too this will please fans of Anekdoten, I'm quite sure. But how about the psych orientation, already noted beforehand? Okay, additionally Francesca is serving enough spheric moments within, and then Andrea, while being rather dominant over the course, won't give us a rest due to his guitar outings. Clearly coming from the psychedelic playground as the homebase he covers a wide range in style, right up to post metal excursions finally.

Actually another album where it is prohibited to focus on any song, as this is all good, simple as that. In other ways, make your own decision. But just let me point out that IO made my day in recent days especially. Magnifico! Just to name another resemblance, the band appears partially akin to The Ovals from Australia, who also thrilled me for some time. Taking into account that this is a debut album howsoever, they definitely are one of the best newcomer in 2016 for me!