ALEA

Shortly after the debut,Andrea De Luca would suffer the departure of the core of his band and Nodo Gordiano wouldn't pull off until De Luca would met drummer Carlo Fattorini guitarist and Fabrizio Santoro.The trio would cover the track ''Lament'' for the Mellow Records King Crimson's tribute ''The Letters: An Unconventional Italian Guide to King Crimson'' in 2003,but soon Santoro would quit as well to focus on electric bass.This fact opened the gates for the arrival of keyboardist Gianluca Cottarelli and the new trio headed to the studios for the sophomore Nodo Gordiano effort ''Alea'',finally released on Mellow Records in 2005.

As the band members' state themselves,this was a chance for them to explore more improvised and experimental styles of rock music in this short work,clocking at 37 minutes.And that is what actually goes on in ''Alea'',where a very strong rhythm section offers a variety of deep grooves with a haunting atmosphere in order to support the keyboard work of Cottarelli.Entirely in a free electronic form, the band's keyboardist pushes his instruments to the upper limits, filling these grooves with obscure electronic work-outs, loops and spacey synthesizers,the result being a totally unconstructive pack of six compositions full of jams,effects and sudden breaks.The album reminds at places of a more modern form of vintage Psych/Electronic/Kraut-Rock bands,without being anything close to their level of inspitration.

This album is far from recommended,it resembles more to a personal effort by a band in order to push their skills in an experimental field.Dark, haunting and jamming synth-driven music only for the mystified with a careful recommendation to Kraut-Freaks.