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Carnascialia - Carnascialia CD (album) cover

CARNASCIALIA

Carnascialia

 

Prog Folk

3.89 | 39 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
5 stars I must admit I have been completely blown away by this album. I usually stay away from anything labeled as Folk, but I feel the Folk label is a little misleading here. I like the description given in the bio here as he describes them as Avant / Folk. There are definite Folk and Avant flavours to this record but it certainly wouldn't truly fit in one or the other in my opinion. This band rose from the ashes of an Italian Folk band called CANZONIERE DEL LAZIO so again there is that flavour for sure.This was released in 1979 and includes PFM's Mauro Pagani on violin and mandolin and also AREA's legendary vocalist Demetrio Stratos. He sings on two tracks but there other singers, in fact there are 14 people playing on this album altogether. I found out about this band about a month ago when reading through this RPI reference book I purchased which lists all the Italian prog bands and their albums including pictures of the album covers. What made me investigate this record was the fact that Demetrio Stratos was on it. What has impressed me so much with this album is how adventerous it is, as well as all the interesting ideas they have implimented. I mean if your a fan of Avant and RPI you will be playing this one a lot. On my final listen (before this review) as I drove into work today I had a lump in my throat on three different occassions from what I was hearing. Nothing like wiping away tears that have been caused by the music I am listening to.

"Canzone Numero Uno" opens with intricate guitar as the vocals join in. It turns fuller as the bass arrives .Beautiful and moving stuff. It's fuller again 2 1/2 minutes in as the violin and percussion arrive and the tempo picks up. A top three. "Fiocchi Di Neve E Bruscolini" is where Demetrio shines vocally. At one point I had a revelation because he's making these sounds like an instrument and it made me think of AREA right away and I thought "I didn't know that sound was done through Demetrio's vocals on those AREA albums". Incredible ! He's making all kinds of different sounds and expressions throughout this track. Music kicks in after a minute.This sounds so cool with the percussion and flute helping out. "Almeisan" opens with piano and atmosphere.It sounds like two pianos then we get violin around 2 1/2 minutes. Gorgeous. Sax too then vocals before 6 1/2 minutes.

"Kaitain" is a top three for me. Intricate sounds with atmosphere to start. Actually these intricate sounds continue to the end. Vocal melodies from Demetrio before 2 minutes. The sax joins in and it trades of with Demetrio. Man this sounds incredible. "Cruzeiro Do Sul" opens with wind chime-like sounds as the vocal melodies create a rhythm.This is both interesting and really good. Violin and other sounds join in until the sound becomes thick and dense as it all blends into one. So good ! The wind chime-like sounds are back to end it. "Gamela" has this electronic beat as other sounds join in. It settles with a beat before 2 minutes.Violin and bass join in too. It picks up and gets fuller 4 1/2 minutes in with vocals. Great sound here as the female vocal melodies and sax help out.

This is music for someone who's looking for something a little different. It's challenging and adventerous yet romantic and passionate. I call it RPI. Now I can't wait to get the sister album to this one.

Mellotron Storm | 5/5 |

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