LIGHTDARK

I was very happy to receive this release not only due to that Nosound's latest offering had grabbed my interest but also because it comes from one of my favourite independent labels, Burning Shed. After Sol29 then, which had given indications of their aesthetic and musical direction, Nosound produce an even more ambitious and complete project from which we can draw safer conclusions about the intentions of this Italian group.

Initially the record intrigued me due to the opening About Butterflies and Children which mainly brought to mind the first Bass Communion releases and the piano-intensive, ambient melodies of Harold Budd. The following Places Remained walks a more familiar path to their usual prog dwellings, with synths and guitar solos leading the proceedings. The situation is similar throughout the rest of Lightdark, including prog opuses (From Silence to Noise) which bring to mind Porcupine Tree of the Sky Moves Sideways and Signify era with a very Bark Psychosis attitude towards production, but also some quite minimal piano pieces (The Misplay, Lightdark) which enforce the ambient aspect of the release. If I am allowed the pun, the sound of Nosound here, is mainly that of the acoustic instrument, since acoustic guitars, pianos and natural background sounds, along with the cello work of Marianne de Chastelaine, are heavily featured throughout the recording. Electricity bears its mark mainly on the Dave Gilmour-esque guitar solos of Giancarlo Erra, who is the main composer of Lightdark and generally the mastermind of Nosound.

The most interesting thing about Nosound, and that which ultimately sets them apart from their peers is that you cannot easily categorise them under the current 'labels' we are all quick to use. The sound of Lightdark is much more artistic and atmospheric than that of most of the neo-prog bands we've heard lately, but at the same time stands so influenced by the classic prog and post rock bands that one hesitates to call them an ambient band. Special mention goes to Someone Starts to Fade Away, a piano ballad which might be the most emotionally charged moment of the record, guest starring Tim Bowness (No-Man) on vocals. It would not surprise me if I heard this song on a Bowness solo outing or if it were a leftover track from No-Man, and it's pretty sure to say that this favourite singer of ours is behind this composition. His melancholy performance and lyrics steal the show once more and make it plain that he's one of the leading voices in his field. As it stands it's an excellent inclusion in the album and my pick for the most potent moment on Lightdark.

Nosound maybe cannot claim to be extremely novel but it's pleasing to listen to well-executed variations on familiar and loved themes, especially when they carry the rich emotional impact of a record such as Lightdark.

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