NOSFERATU IL VAMPIRO

RanestRane is an Italian prog band from Rome that was formed in 1996. The aim of the musicians involved in this project was to compose and perform a "rock-opera", so they chose a famous Werner Herzog's film, "Nosferatu The Vampyre", and commented it with music and original lyrics. They started their live activity in 2000 and conceived their shows as a "cine-concerto", with the images of Werner Herzog's film flowing in the background. In 2006 they released their rock opera on this self-produced studiodouble album.

In 2005 another (prog) rock opera about vampires was released by PFM and a comparison is due... In my opinion both works mix prog elements with a strong melodic flavour and they are in some way complementary: if you like the subject matter and PFM's "Dracula" I'm sure you will love this good and elaborate work too. "Nosferatu il Vampiro" is conceived like a long suite in two parts that can be appreciated also without images. The music flows steady without really weak moments alternating changes of rhythm and gloomy atmospheres to light and intense melodies. The beautiful art cover reproduces a painting by Caspar David Friedrich called "Cloister Cemetery in the snow" and it perfectly fits the overall mood of the album. Vocal parts featuring original lyrics are intertwined with fragments of the film dialogues that contribute to keep up the tension... "I had a dream my love / But it's so strange / That I cannot remember it"...

On the whole a good album with a peculiar feeling and a touch of originality that differentiates this work from others and make it "unique".