ANIMA TERRA

Let's start by putting the bold foot forward - Anima Terra is one of the most original works of post-70s progressive rock I've heard. Despite the seven song listing, Bondage's sole album is a single 52-minute track on this Mellow CD release. The odyssey begins in a storm, perhaps on the open sea, with crackling thunder and distant singing - very subdued, almost languid. I imagine myself standing on a beach in the rain, and out there somewhere on a little rowboat is the dynamic Angelo Calleri, whose quirky singing adds some truly exaggerated drama to this masterwork.

Maybe it's just the watery introduction fueling my metaphor, but the music seems to ebb and flow for the duration, from moments akin to the minimalist opening to melodic waves of guitar driven rock. And the entirety is bound together by the distinctly forward, theatrical vocals. The keyboards do come across as naïve, bordering on cheesy at times, but they're a tremendous contrast to the occasional wall of sound this band lays down. And, although the lyrics speak of death and inner conflict (unless my translation is way off), these guys never seem to take themselves seriously. No pretensions here.

Anima Terra is the freshest piece of music I've heard in years. Modern, organic, unpredictable and memorable. A personal favorite, one I would not hesitate to recommend to any lover of dramatic prog.