LA NOTTE ANCHE DI GIORNO

It's been an interesting week as I've been playing this album and UNREAL CITY's latest back to back, and after many listens there's not a lot to chose between the two in my opinion. Both were rated very highly in the "Album of the Year" voting here and I hadn't had a chance to spin either until lately. I'm not too surprised that UNREAL CITY's 2015 release finished ahead of this one as I found it to be more complex with more meat on it but I still can't decide which one I like better. This latest from CDZ connects with me more emotionally and I liked it right away which is interesting as their debut took many spins to finally connect with me. I wasn't a big fan of their second release but this one is a winner although I found it lost some steam on the final 20 minute suite. What an impressive album cover as well.

This album clocks in at a tidy 44 minutes and consists of two twenty plus minute suites where the songs blend into one another. Up first is "A Ritroso" where the vocals hit us right off the hop and they sound incredible. The violin kicks in quickly and then the drums. Synths to the fore after 4 1/2 minutes and I like the bass/ drum/ violin section after 5 minutes. "Il Giro Del Cappio" has an absolutely gorgeous sound to it as the violin plays sweetly over an emotional soundscape. The vocals a minute in melt me. It's fuller 2 minutes in including vocals that are more passionate. So good. "Libero Pensatore" features violin, drums, synths and more then the guitar starts to play over top. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in as it settles back. It's all instrumental again after 2 minutes with lots of synths, followed by guitar then the vocals as these contrasts continue. Lots of violin later.

"Quite Apparente" is a short piece with a driving rhythm and determined vocals. This sounds great! "Impromptu Pour S. Z." is another short piece with piano melodies only to begin with before the violin and drums join in. I love the tone of the guitar that arrives late. "Lenta Discesa All'averno" opens with vocals right away accompanied with an uptempo instrumental section. Spoken words after 1 1/2 minutes then a calm as we get female vocals that really offer a different flavour to the rest of the album. Beautiful stuff.

The second suite begins with "Il Paese Ferito" where the violin plays over top of the drums and organ. It picks up after a minute as piano and intricate sounds help out including the guitar. Vocals a minute later with lots of violin. A calm 3 minutes in with reserved vocals, violin and piano. More guitar, violin and organ later on. "Cavanello" puts the focus on the vocals. Organ to the fore 2 minutes in then a calm before it kicks back in again. "La Staffetta" is where the vocals and violin standout before we get a calm before 2 1/2 minutes of piano melodies to the end. "Come Statua Di Dolore" opens with synths and drums as the vocals join in. Violin too before the guitar, bass and drums take this into a little bit heavier territory. Violin after 3 minutes as it settles back some. Violin, piano and drums standout 4 1/2 minutes in then the synths take the spotlight. How good is this 5 1/2 minutes in with the guitar and mellotron all the way to the end.

A beautiful album and I like the emotion that's on display as well. A solid 4 stars and one I enjoy as much as their debut.