ANAMORFOSI

With a line-up that comprises of bass, drums and violin (and the very occasional piano) you could be forgiven for thinking that this new trio of Italian's, Le Maschere Di Clara might be a tad on the mellow side. Think again because this exciting band make one hell of a noise, in the best possible way.

Anamorfosi, which is their debut album features eleven compositions, most around the four to five minute mark of 50/50 instrumental/vocal prog rock with the emphasis on rock, which they really do! The foundations are laid by the brutal rhythm section of Lorenzo Masotto and Bruce Turri who benefit from a great in your face bass and drum sound, played with the tight precision and dexterity. The icing on the cake comes from Laura Masotto whose visceral and virtuoso violin playing immediately demands the listener's attention. For only a trio they create a surprisingly powerful sound as they take classical influences with a touch of Italian folk and weave them into a dynamic rock format that has more than a hint of originality. The vocals, in keeping with the nature of the bulk of the pieces are not surprisingly aggressive and shouty and fit well in the general scheme of things. The occasional....and it is only occasional, quieter moment only serves to heighten the powerful and exciting nature of the album overall.

I first became aware of Le Maschere Di Clara last year but it's only now I've managed to track down a copy of this excellent debut album. Had I got hold of it sooner this would have surely made my top 10 albums of 2011. Not quite a five star album, but near enough. Highly recommended.