DANCES OF THE DRASTIC NAVELS

The dynamic duo of Guidoni and Costa are back with their fifth studio album. In the liner notes Costa describes how this new record was inspired by the good things they had done on their first two studio albums, in particular they wanted to do a conclusion to the long "The Dance Of The Drastic Navels" that had begun on the debut album "Disorganicorigami" and continued on "Destruktive" with a "Volume 2". A friend of Costa's lent him his small holiday home in this beautiful, isolated place where the atmosphere was quiet by day and dark and silent by night. Over two days he wrote the five tracks that would consist of this new album along with ideas later from Guidoni. By the way i'm going to track down the debut as the PINK FLOYD references have me very interested.

"Malleus Maleficarum" is an uptempo rocker until it settles right down 2 minutes in. It starts to build before 4 minutes as the guitar solos over top. Another calm after 4 1/2 minutes but this one is darker and quieter than the earlier one. it kicks back in just before 8 minutes as we're rocking again. it turns haunting just before it ends. "Elektra(An Evening with)" has to be about Carmen right?(no it's not). Percussion and atmosphere as the guitar solos tastefully over top. Some heavier moments start to arrive around 2 1/2 minutes and they will start to dominate the soundscape as the guitar gets more aggressive. A beautiful calm takes over before 5 minutes then it starts to build after 6 minutes. This is so good as it continues to the end. "Lilith" has this dark and eerie start with sparse piano lines. That haunting atmosphere disappears as we get this trippy and relaxing soundscape that takes over.

"The Dance Of The Drastic Navels" is dark and it sounds like someone walking as distant vocal melodies can be heard. A change after 2 minutes as we get a soundscape fitting of a horror movie. The piano plays over top then this heavy almost SABBATH-like guitar comes in. Great sound here. It all stops 7 minutes in and you can hear people talking in the distance. It kicks back in before 8 minutes then piano arrives after 10 1/2 minutes. It turns Electronic ala TANGERINE DREAM after 12 1/2 minutes. This stops after 16 minutes as it turns atmospheric with guitar playing in a relaxed manner over top. Some heaviness after 17 1/2 minutes as a strong rhythm kicks in. A calm with piano only after 19 minutes then it builds back to that heavier sound. Piano and atmosphere come in late to end it. "Inside You" features guest violin and female vocals. She really reminds me of the lady from PAATOS in fact the whole song does. Piano and violin to start along with some really good bass playing throughout. A cool way to end the album.

Another excellent album from these two Italians who have carved out for themselves a unique niche when it comes to Progressive music. Highly recommended.