LAVIÀNTICA

Compared to the prior album bass player Paolo Perilli does not sing anymore. Why? Communication not feasible through words? And I have serious problems to deal with the cover image, rather ugly for my impression. As one might expect, this probably is reflecting distressed experiences with some exemplars of human beings that creature has encountered. That would also mean that this nice piece of music wasn't enough to convince Galbat in the end? Anyway, the detailed story may reveal more, is included in the CD booklet, which I do not have at hand yet. LAVIÀNTICA obviously intend to provide food for thought. And a lovely atmosphere throughout furthermore, for example you also will stumble upon some interspersed sea rushing, birds twittering and ambient patterns again and again.

Daniele Sorrenti has joined, who will add more richness to the sound due to flute, vibraphone and minimoog. Keyboards are prominent anyway, as Luciano Stendardi and Paolo Musolino furthermore both are serving for lots of piano lines, organ swirls and symphonic patterns. The Journey marks a perfect opener crossing the ten minute mark. They are processing a varied and very charming kind of prog, warm, melodic, though not chumming up to mainstream on the other hand. 'The Experience' represents a real RPI highlight, an album which easily meets my preference. This works at best in one go, as the songs are fading into each other. Confirms my preference on bands hailing from Italy.

The opener is the short instrumental "Intro" that sets the atmosphere. The mood is dreamy and the music conjures up a peaceful springtime landscape... "Nel vento" (In the wind) describes in music and words a day stolen from the daily grind and spent in the country. There's an open field covered with dancing flowers and colourful butterflies flying all around. Your hands lightly touch the grass, you can hear the sound of the shaking leaves of a near tree and breathe fresh air. Suddenly you begin to move your hands, maybe you're dreaming to fly, you're taking off... Live and never stop!

Next comes "Sole" (Sun) where the rhythm rises and the music flows with a flapping of wings. The soaring vocals warn you that the horizon is just an illusion and that you have to follow your inner light. A free man is ageless, everyone has a leading soul and a different fate... Then the sound of thunders and pouring rain introduce the following "La pioggia" (The rain), where the music and lyrics invite you to think about the secret messages that the rain can write carving the rock, drop after drop for millennia. From above you can see shining shadows moving in the puddles along the streets, there are people invoking the rain and others fearing its force but who can really understand what the rain has to say?

Then comes the melodic, dreaming "Finché il giorno non finisce" (Until the end of the day) where the music and lyrics invite you to savour every single moment of the day, every instant of your life. Now you can relax and look at a wonderful landscape from a lookout on the seashore but Time is always on the run and it never comes back, your thoughts and feelings soon will become just memories... The following "Icaro" (Icarus) is another nice ballad that celebrates the freedom to fly high toward the sun running after your dreams. Even if you know that you have to come back, for a free heart the desire to fly can never fade...

On "Tempo" (Time) the atmosphere becomes a bit darker. Your beautiful day is coming to an end. Make use of your time because life is short, so try to gather speed and run after your time... Carpe diem! The following "Clessidra" (Hourglass) is light and melancholic. The wheel of time is still in spin, there are shadows and dust clouds running down a metaphorical hourglass in the sky. A night train takes you home but the evening breeze is still carrying thoughts and smells waiting for the moonshine that will reflect them. The long, complex instrumental "Laviantica" (The old way) concludes the album with a solemn pace and a strange atmosphere filled with dreams and memories.

All in all, this is a really good work that deserves some attention. Have a try and judge by yourselves: you can listen to the complete album on bandcamp. By the way, the download version is slightly different from the CD, without the intro and the sounds that bind all the single tracks together... If you buy the physical copy you'll get both!